Spiraea virginiana is a shrub that is endemic to the southern Appalachians. Although widely occurring in several Appalachian states, many of the occurrences are of poor quality and have low viability. This species exists in a pattern of a few, large isolated clonal lineages. Little population expansion has been reported, although several occurrences are considered protected (mostly federal and state parks). It is restricted to specific riparian habitats. Many of the extant populations consist of less than 50 clumps. Range-wide, fewer than 30 different genotypes are thought to exist. It is threatened by alterations in flooding regimes within watersheds, and clearing or disturbance of streambank vegetation. Overall this species is threatened by its limited range, small number of isolated populations, high habitat fidelity, and low genetic variation. This species meets the requirements for Endangered under criterion B for area (AOO <500 km²), a continuing decline in the quality of habitat and the number of mature individuals, and a severely fragmented population.

Spiraea virginiana is a broad southern Appalachian endemic with isolated subpopulations in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia in the eastern United States. It is presumably extirpated from Alabama and Pennsylvania. It occurs on streams that drain into the Ohio River and primarily within the Appalachian (Cumberland) Plateau and Blue Ridge physiographic regions, with at least one outlier in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. There are an estimated 78 extant occurrences in a total of seven states (Georgia-3, Kentucky-16 extant and 4 failed to find during last survey, North Carolina-18 and 2 failed to find during last survey, Ohio-7, Tennessee-28 extant and 3 failed to find during last survey, Virginia-5, West Virginia-13). There are an additional 2 extirpated and 4 historical populations, including the only occurrence in Pennsylvania which hasn't been seen since 1901. The species is outplanted at one additional site in Georgia.

This species reproduces vegetatively and forms clones. Most occurrences have less than 50 clumps. Overall, the population size is not known due to different methodologies of reporting plant numbers (clumps versus stems) and the great variation in the year of count. Around half of the occurrences are considered to have poor viability which often indicates declining quality of habitat. In addition, there are 13 occurrences where no plants were found during the most recent survey which is inferred to represent a decline in the number of mature individuals. Two occurrences are extirpated and four are historical.

This species occurs on periodically flood-scoured banks of high-gradient mountain streams, meander scrolls, point bars, natural levees, and braided features of lower stream reaches, and occasionally near disturbed rights-of-way (Ogle 1992). Plants are often found on geologically active areas with erosion, deposition, and slumping, along rivers with dynamic flooding regimes, sandbars, scoured river shore and flatrock habitat with crevices. These areas also are associated with cobbles, boulders, and massive rock outcrops with sandy or clay soils and can be periodically xeric. Plants are often seen in silt, mud, and sand.

Spiraea virginiana is especially vulnerable to land-use conversion and habitat fragmentation. Populations of this riparian species are isolated, consisting of sterile clones, and damming of rivers has increased this isolation over time. Lack of disturbance (succession) is also a factor, as altered river flows may affect scouring regime which if lacking allows for woody plant encroachment, or if increased interrupts establishment (Horton et al. 2015). Many sites are threatened by changes in hydrology by impoundment and by impact from recreational use, hydroelectric facilities, and run-off debris (Kadis 2002). Small populations may be threatened by severe flooding that results in wash-outs of the streambank. Exotic species (Rosa multiflora, Coronilla varia, Elaeagnus umbellata, Festuca rubra, Alliaria officinalis, Rumex obtusifolius, Polygonum cuspidatum, Pueraria lobata, Lonicera japonica, Spiraea japonica, Ligustrum sinense, Miscanthus sinensis, Arthraxon hispidus, and Phalaris arundinacea) that compete with Spiraea virginiana are also a threat (Horton et al. 2015). Roadside maintenance, beaver damage, deer browse, all-terrain vehicle use and upslope timbering are also threats. One site in West Virginia is near a powerline right-of-way and may be threatened by herbicide use. Beaver herbivory can be a threat, however, it is also known to promote clonal growth and it may help disperse the species (Rossell et al. 2013).
This species has low documented genetic variation. It persists in a few, large, clonal lineages where sexual reproduction is very low (Brzyski and Cullen 2011, 2013). Additionally, germination rates from those rare sexual events is low (Brzyski and Cullen 2013), and selfing is extremely infrequent (2%) compared to outcrossing (20%) as measured in experiments (Brzyski et al. 2014).

Spiraea virginiana is cultivated but the source of the material is unknown. This is evidenced by the comments and discussion in online garden forums.

It is estimated that 32% of global population is found on federal lands (e.g. USFWS, NPS), 33% on state managed conservation lands, and 10% on privately owned lands managed geared toward conservation, and 25% on private land of various types (Tessel 2019). USESA: Threatened.