Filipendula ulmaria

The Filipendula ulmaria, also known as the Meadowsweet, is a robust perennial that is hardy and thrives in moist soil. Its numerous delicate white flowers are grouped in very airy corymbs and attract pollinators from June to August. Both wild and elegant, it is suitable for different types of gardens and does not require monitoring.

The Meadowsweet has been known for centuries for its many virtues. Firstly, aromatic: it perfumes wines, beers and mead. But also medicinal: it is used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic... In our gardens, it is primarily decorative: from its rhizomatous stump, long branching stems emerge, carrying large shiny leaves of a bright green. These leaves are odd-pinnate, composed of several leaflets, distinctly crenate and pinnate, with a waffled surface that pleasantly reflects the light. At the end of the stems, airy corymbs sway in the wind. They are made up of multiple small white flowers, slightly fragrant, with prominent stamens that give it a lot of charm.

The Meadowsweet is a tall perennial that can be used to create a lush, airy and wild background. It can withstand cold temperatures (-15°C (5°F)) and enjoys both sunny and semi-shaded exposures. Its only requirement is to avoid soils that may dry out. In that case, it will need to be watered. It can be placed anywhere in flower beds, behind small clumps such as perennial Geraniums and Heucheras, and between tall plants such as Hollyhocks and Foxgloves.