Spiraea salicifolia × S. alba (S.
× rosalba Dippel), Intermediate Bridewort

Introduction, neophyte, a scarce or very occasional garden escape or relict of cultivation.

1991; McNeill, I.; Glengesh, NE of Tempo.

July to September.

This pink-flowered, suckering hedging shrub is most often found close to houses and is a relict of planted stock, a garden escape or a discard. Records of garden Spiraea are confused by only recently recognised taxonomic splits and earlier reports of the S. salicifolia group, to which this hybrid belongs, still require re-determination in B & I herbaria (Reynolds 2002; Stace et al. 2015).

Identification keys are tentative (A.J. Silverside, in: Rich & Jermy 1998) and all claims made regarding the occurrence of this and other members of the group need to be treated with caution.

There are eight records of S. × rosalba in Fermanagh, equally split between RHN and I. McNeill (IMcN). With one exception they are scattered in the E of the VC, the other record being on farmland overlooking the SW shore of Lower Lough Erne at Ardees Lower Td.

In addition to the first record listed above, the remaining details are: roadside W of Errasallagh crossroads, 7 km NW of Rosslea, 15 July 1997, RHN; near Moysnaght Td, NE of Clabby village, 21 July 1997, IMcN; Coolcran, S of Brougher Mt, 21 July 1997, IMcN; near cottages below cliffs, Ardees Lower Td, 20 September 1997, RHN & HJN; ruined house, Mullaghfad Td, E of Brookeborough, 21 September 1998, IMcN; near Garvary, E of Enniskillen, 21 July 2000, RHN; and Topped Mt Lough, 6 km ENE of Enniskillen, 24 September 2000, RHN.