How to Grow Filipendula Plants in your Garden

Filipendula Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Meadowsweet, Dropwort, Queen of the prairie, Queen of the meadows, Bridewort.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
Height: 24 to 120 inches (60 to 300 cm).
Native: Northern America, Europe, Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 9.
Flowers: Summer.
Flower Details: White, cream, pink. Plumes. Fragrant.
Foliage: Herbaceous. Lobed. Fern-like. Dark green upper leaf, downy, lighter lower leaf.
Sow Outside: Cover seed. Autumn using fresh seed. Seeds should first be sown into flats. Next sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass/plastic covering. Keep an eye on the flats to ensure that the soil remains moist and to check if seedlings have emerged. Transfer to pots when seedlings are strong. Transplant to final location in autumn.
Sow Inside: Germination time: one to three months. Temperature: 55 to 60°F (13 to 16°C). Ten weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade; some species will only grow in the shade. Alkaline soil, moist soil. Mix in manure or compost. Soil must be kept moist so supply a spring and autumn mulch of organic material. Provide support with twigs. Cut back to the ground in autumn. Propagate: by dividing at the start of spring in cold areas or autumn in warmer areas.
Miscellaneous: Takes two years for seed grown plants to bloom. Filipendula are attractive to many species of moths and butterflies such as the Grizzled Skipper.