Practical
Plants

Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet

a perennial member of the Filipendula genus in the family Rosaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.2 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked[12][6]. Young leaves - cooked as a flavouring in soups[9]. Young leaves, flowers and roots are brewed into a tea[10]. The dried leaves are used as a flavouring[4][2], especially as a sweetener in herb teas[5][10]. The flowers are used as a flavouring in various alcoholic beverages and in stewed fruits[10]. Adding them to wine or beer is said to make a very heady brew[18]. They are also made into a syrup which can be used in cooling drinks and fruit salads[10].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Meadowsweet has a very long history of herbal use, it was one of the three most sacred herbs of the Druids[16]. The leaves and flowering stems are alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, stomachic and tonic[22][26][14][7]. The plant is harvested in July when it is in flower and can be dried for later use[22]. The flower head contains salicylic acid, from which the drug aspirin can be synthesised[13][16]. Unlike the extracted aspirin, which can cause gastric ulceration at high doses, the combination of constituents in meadowsweet act to protect the inner lining of the stomach and intestines whilst still providing the anti-inflammatory benefits of aspirin[20]. The herb is a valuable medicine in the treatment of diarrhoea, indeed it is considered almost specific in the treatment of children's diarrhoea[22]. It is also considered to be a useful stomachic, being used to treat hyperacidity, heartburn, gastritis and peptic ulcers, for which it is one of the most effective plant remedies[22][16]. It is also frequently used in the treatment of afflictions of the blood[22]. Meadowsweet is also effective against the organisms causing diphtheria, dysentery and pneumonia[16]. This remedy should not be given to people who are hypersensitive to aspirin[16]. A strong decoction of the boiled root is said to be effective, when used externally, in the treatment of sores and ulcers[18]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root[26].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A black dye is obtained from the roots. It is brown[6]. A yellow dye is obtained from the plant tops[3]. An essential oil obtained from the flower buds is used in perfumery[23][24]. The whole plant, but especially the leaves[19], was formerly used as a strewing herb, imparting an almond-like fragrance[22][25]. Strongly aromatic, its delightful perfume would completely fill the room[18]. Both flowers and leaves have been used in pot-pourri, retaining their scent for several months. The scent of the dried flowers becoming more and more pleasant with age[19].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Pot-pourri
Product or use
Strewing

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, temperate Asia and Mongolia.
Habitat
Wet ground in swamps, marshes, fens, wet woods and meadows, wet rock ledges and by rivers, but not on acid peats[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame[1]. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in spring, germinating best at a temperature of 10 - 13°c[13]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown enough. If not, keep them in a cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring. Division in autumn or winter[13]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a humus-rich moist soil in semi-shade[13]. Succeeds in full sun only if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season[13]. Dislikes dry or acid soils[1][8]. Does well in marshy soils[17][13]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. The flowers have a strong sweet smell[22], which for many people is sickly[19]. The leaves are also aromatic[11], though the scent is very different from the flowers[22]. The leaves are pleasantly aromatic[19]. A good bee plant[17][21]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩

  4. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩

  5. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  6. Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986-00-00 ISBN 0704909820

    ↩1↩2

  7. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  8. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  15. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  18. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  20. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  21. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  22. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  23. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  24. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  25. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩

  26. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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