Meadowsweet

Description

Species Information

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), also known as queen of the meadow, meadow queen, mead wort, and lady of the meadow, is a herbaceous perennial plant, commonly seen across damp meadows, marshy grounds, and wet woodland across the British Isles.

A member of the rose family (Rosaceae), it has long been valued as a medicinal plant in herbal medicine, particularly for feverish colds and digestive conditions, due to its naturally occurring salicylic acid and related salicylate compounds, similar to those found in willow bark. Historically, meadowsweet was used to flavour traditional mead and herb teas, scattered as a strewing herb, and favoured by Queen Elizabeth I for its aromatic flowers.

The roots can also be used with a copper mordant to produce a natural black dye.

How to Identify

Meadowsweet has tall, upright stems topped with white flower plumes made up of many small, petaled flowers during the flowering season in early to mid-summer. The leaves are large, serrated, and dark green, with a paler underside, and the whole plant releases a sweet, almond-like scent when crushed. Its frothy cream flowers and preference for damp meadows help distinguish it from other herbaceous wildflowers.

How to Grow

Meadowsweet grows best in moist borders, bog gardens, and damp woodland edges, thriving in consistently wet soil. It prefers full sun or light partial shade and is well-suited to naturalistic planting schemes in wet or low-lying areas. Once established, this perennial plant is low-maintenance and spreads steadily, making it ideal for wildlife-friendly gardens and restoration planting.