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Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet )

Other names: Bridewort, Pride of the meadow, Lady of the meadow, Meadow queen, Mountain spirea, Meadow-wort

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Species
F. ulmaria is an upright, herbaceous perennial with deep green, pinnate, divided leaves and fluffy, white flower heads in summer until early autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
1.2 m 1 m 2-5 years
3 ft 3 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Clay
  • Loamy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in full sun or light shade. A useful plant for areas with poor drainage.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, City, Low Maintenance, Waterside, Bees (attract & feed bees), Meadow

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = High
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Inappropriate
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright, Clump-forming

Native to

Europe, Russia, Central Asia

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

Yes

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Cut back after flowering.

Propagation methods

Seed, Division

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Powdery mildew

Leaf spot

Cut plants to ground level (optional)

Divide and replant in spring

Improve soil moisture by adding well-rotted organic matter

Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (autumn or spring)

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Prepare a weed-free, perennial meadow seed bed.

Sow perennial meadow seed in an open, sunny position in spring.

Sow perennial meadow seed in an open, sunny position in autumn.

Water spring-planted perennial meadows in dry periods.

Weed spring-sown perennial meadows in the first year.

Spring cut perennial meadows

Summer cut perennial meadows

Autumn cut perennial meadows

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (10)

Filipendula

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Filipendula 'Kahome'
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Filipendula 'Kahome' Purple meadowsweet 'Kahome'
Filipendula vulgaris
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Filipendula vulgaris Dropwort
Filipendula rubra 'Venusta'
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Filipendula rubra 'Venusta' Meadowsweet 'Venusta'
Filipendula ulmaria
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Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet
Filipendula ulmaria 'Aurea'
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Filipendula ulmaria 'Aurea' Meadowsweet 'Aurea'
Filipendula purpurea
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Filipendula purpurea Purple meadowsweet
Filipendula purpurea 'Elegans'
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Filipendula purpurea 'Elegans' Purple meadowsweet 'Elegans'
Filipendula ulmaria 'Flore Pleno'
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Filipendula ulmaria 'Flore Pleno' Meadowsweet 'Flore Pleno'
Filipendula vulgaris 'Multiplex'
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Filipendula vulgaris 'Multiplex' Dropwort 'Multiplex'
Filipendula ulmaria 'Variegata'
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Filipendula ulmaria 'Variegata' Variegated meadowsweet
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Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Filipendula ulmaria with other Shoot members

Filipendula ulmaria

Shoot User
905 0
In summer, it has a wonderful mass of creamy-white fragrant flowers arranged in dense, foamy clusters above the leaves. The oval, ridged seeds smell rather less pleasant and this has earned it an alternative colloquial - and a little cyncial - name of 'courtship and matrimony'. Other common and older English names for this plant include meadsweet and meadwort. These suggest that the flowers of this plant were once used to flavour alcoholic drinks.
Posted: Monday 8th of June 2009 01:05 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 08:26 AM
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