©Lizzie Wilberforce
Meadowsweet
As its name suggests, Meadowsweet is a sweet-smelling flower of damp meadows, ditches and riverbanks. Look for frothy clusters of cream flowers on tall stems.
Scientific name
Filipendula ulmariaWhen to see
June to SeptemberSpecies information
Statistics
Height: up to 1.25mCommon.
About
Meadowsweet is a member of the rose family that favours wet habitats, such as ditches, damp meadows and riverbanks. Its leaves are sometimes covered with a bright orange rust fungus. It blooms from June to September, with sprays of tiny creamy-white flowers standing atop tall stems.Its sweet smell encouraged people to display it in their houses in past times; but if crushed, it can smell more like antiseptic!
How to identify
Meadowsweet displays a 'froth' of creamy-white flowers, densely packed together in flower heads that sit on erect stems. Its dark green leaves are divided into pairs of leaflets and have silvery undersides.Distribution
Widespread.In our area
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Did you know?
The flowers of Meadowsweet are sometimes used in wine, beer and vinegar, or to give jams a subtle almond flavour. In fact, the common name of this plant likely arose as a result of it being used to flavour mead.Join today
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