Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria
40 Seeds
Sow April - June
Hardy perennial.
Prefers a moist, fertile soil with full sun or partial shade.
Height 60-120cm (2-4ft), spread 60cm (2ft).
Sow outside in spring in good rich soil covering the seed lightly. Sow inside in seed trays of peat compost in spring or late summer and lightly cover with soil. Prick out when large enough and grow on until planted out.
Cream coulured clusters of tiny blossoms with sweet almond fragrance throughout the summer. The pinkish creeping root is also scented. Wrinkled, deeply indented, dark green leaves with grey-green undersides, which exudes a pleasant wintergreen fragrance.
Meadowsweet
Also known as Bridewort, Dropwort, Bittersweet, Hayrill, Courtship, Matrimony, Meadow Maid, Meadow Queen, Meadow Wort, Queen of the Meadow and Summers Farewell.
From the Family Rosaceae.
A native of Asia and Europe. The generic name 'Filipendula' comes from 'filum' meaning thread, 'pendulas' meaning hanging which describes the root tubers that hang on fibrous roots. Meadowsweet is said to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'medesweete', as it was used to flavour mead. It was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I because its leaves delighted the senses without causes headaches. It was often used at weddings for making into bridal garlands hence 'Bridewort'. It was from the flower buds that salicylic acid was first discovered, from which aspirin was later synthesised.