Filipendula multijuga aka Multi Ridge Meadowsweet

Filipendula multijuga is a perennial in the rose family. Garden sources call it Japanese meadowsweet or pinnate meadowsweet. It comes from south-central and southern Japan, where it grows in mountains. Its range includes Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. This is a plant of temperate regions. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant forms a leafy clump with a rounded outline. The RHS describes plants about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. Its wider garden height range reaches 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Spread reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. Upright stems bear leaves with lobed tips. Lower leaflets grow in opposite pairs and have toothed edges. The plant loses its leaves for winter.

Small pink flowers rise above the leaves in loose clusters. The RHS describes their shade as rose pink. It places flowering in summer. Chicago Botanic Garden lists bloom from May through August. The flowers and rounded form suit beds and borders. The RHS also suggests cottage gardens and less formal planting schemes. Plants For A Future lists it for bog gardens and cultivated beds. That source also notes its value for attracting wildlife.

Grow this species in sun or partial shade. It needs fertile soil rich in humus that stays moist. The RHS lists both clay and loam as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline ground. Soil may drain well or poorly, provided it stays moist. Chicago Botanic Garden lists a moderate water need. The RHS gives a hardiness rating of H6. Chicago lists USDA zones 6–8. These ratings describe cold tolerance under different garden systems.

The RHS places this plant among low-maintenance garden choices. Grow new plants from seed, or divide an existing clump. Cut back the stems once flowering has finished. Pests are seldom a problem, according to the RHS. Fungal leaf spots and mildew can still affect the plant. Plants For A Future reports no weed potential. It lists leaves and shoots as edible parts. Its stated food use is cooked young shoot tips. It gives food value a low score of one out of five. That source reports no known hazards, but this does not establish safety for pets. It records no known medicinal uses or other practical uses.