Maruba-shimotsuke, Spiraea betulifolia

　Maruba-shimotsuke is a tree native to alpine grasslands and gravelly areas from Hokkaido to the central part of Honshu. As the kanji characters ‘丸葉下野’ suggest, its Japanese name means ‘Shimotsuke with round leaves’. Shimotsuke is a shrub related to the rose family; it is said to have been named after Shimotsuke Province—now part of Tochigi Prefecture—where it was first discovered.

　Its small white flowers cluster in round clusters, blooming much like hydrangeas. It is said to flower from June onwards in Mount Zaō,  and I saw many of them blooming along the trekking trails.

　As it is highly adaptable to its environment and easy to care for, it is also popular as an ornamental plant in Japan.