- Botanical name: Filipendula ulmaria
- Common name: Meadowsweet
- Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
- Attractive to wildlife
Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria, has a very long history of herbal use, and it was one of the three most sacred herbs of the ancient Druids. The leaves and flowering stems have traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic astringent, diuretic, stomachic and tonic. It’s an attractive plant, ideal for growing in damp soil and boggy areas, such as the edge of a pond. It’s mostly grown for its foliage, which emerges a fresh golden-green, fading to gold in summer, especially when grown in strong sun.
If allowed to flower, Filipendula ulmaria blooms have a strong, sweet scent, but the plant puts much of its energy into developing the flower spikes. However, by removing the flower spikes as soon as they become visible, plants remain vegetative and develop larger, more pronounced foliage. Not only does this look better, it also prevents plants self seeding, which may be a nuisance.
Grow Filipendula ulmaria in boggy soil in full sun to partial shade. Remove flowers to prevent self-seeding if necessary.
How to grow Filipendula ulmaria
-
Plant size
90cm height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
East facing, south facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade, partial shade
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist / boggy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do not Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
Filipendula ulmaria and wildlife
Filipendula ulmaria is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It nectar-pollen-rich-flowers and has seeds for birds.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Filipendula ulmaria poisonous?
Filipendula ulmaria has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
