Sem Ash Leaf Spirea

Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'

$79¹⁹ $119⁹⁹

In Stock
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Plant Size

#3 Container

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

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This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

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Delivery and Shipping

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.

Standard Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From	To	S&H
$0	$19.99	$24.99
$20	$49.99	$29.99
$50	$69.99	$34.99
$70	$99.99	$39.99
$100	$129.99	$44.99
$130	$149.99	$48.99
$150	$150+	Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Sem Ash Leaf Spirea highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'
Growing Zones

3-7
Mature Height

3 - 4 feet
Mature Spread

3 - 4 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Moderate
Soil

Widely Adaptable
Growth Rate

Medium
Flower Color

Deciduous
Fall Color

Orange
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Summer

Growing Zones 3-7

Find Your Growing Zone!

Easy to Grow, Compact Sem Ash Leaf Spirea

Attracts Butterflies
Dramatic Fall Color
Easy to Grow
Creamy White Summer Blooms

Sem Ash Leaf Spirea, Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' (16,336), has pinkish-red, fern-like spring foliage that unfurls along deep pink stems. Its foliage really shows off in the fall!

In July and August the neat, round shrub covers itself with creamy white blossoms. This dwarf variety makes a wonderful low hedge, or a great accent.

Sem is an improvement from older Sorbaria varieties. It is compact, better-branched, and denser than others; it creates a tight, bushy little mound in the garden, making a fine low hedge or accent planting as well as a shrub border.

Sem is elegant, space-saving, and beautiful! Sem forms a neat, tidy shrub in the partly shaded garden, which adds a nice texture. This shrub is easy to grow and quite adaptable, thriving in any well-drained soil.

It is especially valuable for northern climates because of its hardiness!

Spreading tubers like crazy.

I didnt think spirea spread by tubers. Is it just this particular species or is something wiwrd going on?

Hello Bj,

Thank you so much for sharing your observation with us! You're absolutely right to be curious—Spireas typically spread through suckers or runners, rather than tubers, and the sem Ash Leaf Spirea you have is known more for its airy, graceful branches than tuber propagation. It does sound a bit unusual that you’re seeing seemingly tuber-like growth spread. Sometimes, underground runners or rhizomes can resemble tubers and might explain the rapid spread you’re experiencing.

If you’d like, we can offer some tips on controlling spread or provide advice on ensuring healthy growth without overwhelming your garden space. Also, feel free to share photos if you continue noticing these growths—we’re here to help you figure out exactly what’s going on and keep your spirea thriving beautifully!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Spreading tubers like crazy.

I didnt think spirea spread by tubers. Is it just this particular species or is something wiwrd going on?

Hi BJ,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your observation about your Sem Ash Leaf Spirea! You're right to find the spreading behavior interesting—most spireas typically expand via suckers or spreading, but tuber-based spreading is quite unusual for this genus. It’s possible that something unique is happening with this particular plant or that it might be confused with another type of resilient spreading groundcover planted nearby. Additionally, sometimes underground runners or rhizomes can appear similar to tubers depending on the species or local growing conditions.

If you’d like, feel free to send us a few photos or a bit more info about the growth pattern and surroundings. We’re here to help you identify what’s going on and offer tips on managing or gently encouraging the way you want your spirea to spread. Keeping an eye on the root structures and adjusting watering or soil conditions can sometimes influence whether plants behave more aggressively.

Thanks again for reaching out and happy gardening!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team