Filipendula ulmaria aka Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria, or meadowsweet, belongs to the rose family. This herbaceous perennial comes from Europe and western Asia. It is native to Britain and Ireland. It also grows in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Wild plants grow in marshes, wet woods, and damp meadows. They also grow beside rivers and on wet rock ledges.

Meadowsweet forms upright clumps and loses its leaves each year. Garden plants stand about 3–4 feet [0.9–1.2 metres] tall. RHS gives a shorter range, while NC State lists heights reaching 6 feet [1.8 metres]. Clumps can spread about 3.3 feet [1 metre] wide. Leafy stems hold the flowers above the foliage. The dark green, pinnate leaves have seven to nine leaflets. Each leaflet has sharp teeth along its edge. Fine hairs cover the pale underside. The leaves have a scent, but the stems do not.

Small cream to yellow-white flowers open from June to August. They form branched panicles at the stem tips. Their strong, sweet scent can be unpleasant to some people. Bees visit the blooms, which also suit cutting and drying. Meadowsweet fits the back of borders and informal gardens. It also suits wet meadows and pond or stream edges. Deer and rabbits tend to leave it alone.

Grow it in rich soil with plenty of humus. It needs moist ground in sun or partial shade. Both well-drained and poorly drained sites can suit it. Heavy clay is suitable, provided the ground stays moist. Dry soil can scorch the leaves. Sources disagree on whether it tolerates acid soil. RHS rates it H6; Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 3–9. Divide clumps or sow seeds in spring. Cut stems back once flowering ends. Mildew may occur, though serious pest problems are uncommon. Plants seed freely and can spread beyond their space. Some Midwestern states restrict it as a noxious weed. Removing spent flowers helps limit seed spread.

PFAF lists flowers, leaves, and roots as edible parts. Cooked roots and young leaves have food uses. Flowers and dried leaves flavour drinks and other foods. The plant also has a long history of herbal use. Its flower heads contain salicylic acid. PFAF warns against use by people with asthma or children under twelve. Leaves and flowers serve in scented dried mixes. Other uses include dyes and perfume oil.