The flowers of the purple Spiræa, or Hardhack, are conspicuous by
roadsides, especially where they pass over wet grounds. It delights in
the borders of rustic wood-paths, in lanes that conduct from the
enclosures of some farm cottage to the pasture, growing all along under
the loose stone-wall, where its crimson spikes may be seen waving in the
wind with the nodding plumes of the golden-rod and the blue spikes of
the vervain, well known as the “Simpler’s Joy.” The Hardhack affords no
less pleasure to the simpler, who has used its flowers from immemorial
time as an astringent anodyne. There is no beauty in any part of this
plant, except its pale crimson flowers, which are always partially faded
at the extremity or unopened at the base, so that a perfect cluster
cannot be found. The leaves are of a pale imperfect green on the upper
surface and almost white beneath, and without any beauty. The
uprightness of this plant, and the spiry form of its floral clusters,
has gained it the name of “Steeplebush,” from our church-going
ancestors.