Filipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet, Native Bog Plant

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.