Description
Filipendula ulmaria, known as meadowsweet or queen of the meadow, is a UK native wild flower of damp meadows, ditches and riverbanks. From June to September it carries frothy clusters of scented, creamy-white flowers above dark green, toothed leaves that are silvery underneath.
Meadowsweet at a glance
| Botanical name |
Filipendula ulmaria |
| Common name |
Meadowsweet, queen of the meadow |
| Plant type |
Clump-forming perennial; dies back in winter |
| Height and spread |
About 50 cm–1 m tall (RHS), wild plants up to 1.2 m; 50–100 cm wide |
| Flowers |
Creamy-white, scented, in frothy clusters, June to September |
| Position |
Full sun or part shade |
| Soil |
Moist to wet clay or loam; any pH |
| Pond depth |
None – damp soil, not under water |
| Hardiness |
RHS H6 – hardy in a very cold winter (-20 to -15°C) |
| Native to |
UK and Ireland (native wild flower) |
Is meadowsweet a pond plant?
It is a bog and damp-ground plant, not a water plant. Plant it in moist or wet soil beside the pond, in a bog garden or in a damp meadow, but not under water.
Is meadowsweet good for wildlife?
Yes. The flowers attract many insects, and it is a food plant for the caterpillars of the emperor moth, grey pug and satellite moths.
How to plant and care for it
Plant from spring to late summer in soil that stays moist. It is generally pest-free but can get powdery mildew, and the leaves sometimes show an orange rust.
Which size should I buy?
Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.
