The Virginia spiraea was first listed on June 15, 1990. It is currently designated as Threatened in the Entire Range. The published range of this species includes: Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.

Virginia spirea is thought to now only reproduce by its spreading underground stems or by portions of the plants breaking off and washing downstream. It has become so rare and indvidual populations so isolated that it not known to seed due to lack of proper cross-pollination. Although populations often flower profusely and may even produce fruit, no seedlings have been observed in the wild.