# Meadowsweet (*Filipendula ulmaria*)

Meadowsweet has fluffy white flowers that smell sweet! It's often found in wet areas and is loved by insects.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Wet meadows and marshes
- **Also known as:** Dropwort, Queen of the Meadow

![Meadowsweet](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/d7ed81d3aefb5562a8daf57308098416539528c1d0d07443b141af19565f94f6/image-560x560/w-560.webp)

## Appearance

The Meadowsweet has creamy-white, frothy flower clusters that look like tiny clouds atop reddish, grooved stems. Its dark green leaves are deeply serrated and often have a whitish underside, giving it a distinct two-toned look.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Filipendula

## Interesting facts

- It was a sacred plant for ancient Celtic priests, the Druids.
- Its fragrant flowers were used to flavor mead, a popular honey drink.
- People once used its flowers to scent homes and strew on floors!
- The plant contains chemicals similar to aspirin, discovered in the 19th century.

## Special abilities

- **Scented Signal:** Meadowsweet has a strong, sweet almond-like scent that helps it attract many busy insect pollinators.
- **Water Warrior:** Meadowsweet can grow in really wet soils, using its roots to absorb extra water and thrive where other plants might struggle.
- **Nature's Healer:** Meadowsweet has natural compounds that help it defend against pests and diseases, keeping itself healthy.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its abundant flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Common Carder Bee (*Bombus pascuorum*) — Visits meadowsweet flowers for vital nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** Dock Leaf Beetle (*Gastrophysa viridula*) — Larvae and adults feed on meadowsweet leaves.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Meadowsweet?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Meadowsweet?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Meadowsweet spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Meadowsweet?

0.3-0.5 cm

### When does Meadowsweet bloom?

Summer to early autumn

### Is Meadowsweet edible?

Yes

### Is Meadowsweet toxic?

Mild

### What is Meadowsweet's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wales-ape-and-monkey-sanctuary) — Wales, GB · Zoo
- [Naturpark Dümmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dummer-nature-park) — Niedersachsen; Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park
- [Wildpark Bruderhaus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-bruderhaus) — Zurich, CH · Zoo
- [Naturpark Frankenwald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-frankenwald) — Bayern, DE · Park
- [Naturpark Hoher Fläming](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-hoher-flaming) — Brandenburg, DE · Park
- [Schlossgarten Eutin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eutin-castle-garden) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Park

[View all places to see Meadowsweet](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/meadowsweet)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Meadowsweet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadowsweet)