noun
- a North American shrub (Spiraea tomentosa) with dense clusters of pink or white flowers and tough, woody stems
Usage: also called steeplebush; botanical term
Examples
- The hardhack blooms in late summer with striking pink flower spikes.
- Hardhack is commonly found in wetlands and marshy areas throughout the northeastern United States.
- The tough stems of hardhack make it difficult to clear from overgrown fields.
- Native Americans traditionally used hardhack for medicinal purposes.
- Gardeners often plant hardhack in rain gardens because it tolerates wet soil.