Meadowsweet
Filipendula ulmaria
Also listed as Spiraea ulmaria, Thecanisia ulmaria
Also known as Queen of the Meadow, European Meadowsweet, Elm Queen-of-the-meadow
Climate Match for your location
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A tall perennial with feathery, creamy-white flower plumes and aromatic compound leaves. Thrives in moist conditions and partial shade, making it ideal for borders and naturalized areas.
Why grow it
Meadowsweet offers a distinctive tall form and fragrant flower display for damp-site planting where many ornamental perennials struggle. Among moisture-loving species, it combines rapid establishment with extended bloom and aromatic foliage attractive to pollinators. Its tolerance for partial shade and poor drainage makes it useful where conventional border plants would decline.
Watch out for
Meadowsweet self-seeds readily in favorable conditions and can spread beyond intended planting areas over time. In smaller gardens or managed perennial beds, deadheading spent flowers before seed set helps contain spread. The plant also prefers consistent moisture and may decline or become stressed in dry summers without supplemental watering.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
'Aurea' features golden foliage in spring; 'Variegata' has cream-striped leaves. Both are grown primarily for ornamental foliage rather than the standard form's abundant flowers.
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tall perennial with feathery, creamy-white flower plumes and aromatic compound leaves. Thrives in moist conditions and partial shade, making it ideal for borders and naturalized areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Meadowsweet grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Meadowsweet offers a distinctive tall form and fragrant flower display for damp-site planting where many ornamental perennials struggle. Among moisture-loving species, it combines rapid establishment with extended bloom and aromatic foliage attractive to pollinators. Its tolerance for partial shade and poor drainage makes it useful where conventional border plants would decline.
Watch out for
Meadowsweet self-seeds readily in favorable conditions and can spread beyond intended planting areas over time. In smaller gardens or managed perennial beds, deadheading spent flowers before seed set helps contain spread. The plant also prefers consistent moisture and may decline or become stressed in dry summers without supplemental watering.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
'Aurea' features golden foliage in spring; 'Variegata' has cream-striped leaves. Both are grown primarily for ornamental foliage rather than the standard form's abundant flowers.