The paper revises and re-discusses the literature dealing with the phytosociology of the Spiraea rock heath communities based on relevés collected in North Hungary (Northern Hungarian Mountain Range) and South Hungary (Mecsek and Villány Mts). The comparative analyses confirmed the separation of the formerly described two associations and added one new subassociation to each. These are Waldsteinio-Spiraeetum mediae filipenduletosum and Helleboro odori-Spiraeetum scilletosum. Differences between stands along the three possible ecological gradients (southwest-northeast, north-facing vs. south-facing and vertical) were also analysed. An obvious continentality trend is identified along a southwest-northeast gradient and obvious ecological differences are detected between the south-facing and north-facing Spiraea stands. In contrast, no ecological trend is recognisable along a vertical gradient.