Pollinator plant

Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

15 names

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

English
Dutch
  • Moerasspirea[3]
French
  • Filipendule ulmaire[3]
  • Reine des prés[3]
  • Reine-des-prés[3]
  • Reine-des-prés Grande[3]
  • Spirée Ulmaire[3]
German
  • Echtes Mädesüß[3]
Italian
  • Olmaria comune[3]
Portuguese
Spanish
  • altarreina[3]
  • reina de los prados[3]

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Filipendula ulmaria — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Meadowsweet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Double Lady of the Meadow — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • European Meadowsweet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Queen of the Meadow — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Filipendula ulmaria.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • meadowsweet — Page 4, column 1, row top 592 pt; common-name cell after Filipendula ulmaria.; Filipendula ulmaria.
[3] Filipendula ulmaria — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Meadowsweet — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Moerasspirea — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Reine des prés — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Echtes Mädesüß — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • European Meadowsweet — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Queen of the Meadow — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • altarreina — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • reina de los prados — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Filipendule ulmaire — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Reine-des-prés — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Reine-des-prés Grande — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Spirée Ulmaire — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Olmaria comune — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
  • Ulmária — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 63134; Filipendula ulmaria.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Filipendula ulmaria is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rosaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Siberia, Asia, Mongolia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Filipendula ulmaria in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.20 m high × 0.40 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-9
Moisture
Moist, Wet
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Seasoning, Root, Tea
Functions
Dye, Essential oil, Pollinator plant, Fragrant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Carrot: Cooked carrots are soft in texture and have a mild flavor. Young leaves: These can be cooked and used as flavor enhancers in soups. The dried leaves serve as a seasoning, such as in herbal tea. Flowers: They can be used as flavorings in alcoholic beverages, stewed fruits, and to make a syrup for fruit salads. A tea can be made by combining the young leaves, flowers, and roots.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Filipendula ulmaria — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2161822; ID 6J2MQ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2161822; ID 6J2MQ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Filipendula ulmaria — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Filipendula ulmaria (top 592 pt)

    Source checked on .