FILIPENDULA

These lush plants bear plumes of tiny flowers above large, coarsely divided leaves. Most species prefer moist to constantly damp soil. Use in borders, in naturalistic landscapes, beside ponds.

japanese meadowsweet

DROPWORT

filipendula purpurea

• From Japan.
• Pink, 3- to 4 feet-tall plumes rise above maplelike, 5- to 7 inches leaves in clumps to 2 feet across.
• Alba (F.
• p.
• albiflora) has white plumes to 2 feet tall.
• Elegans is compact at 12 feet tall; its white plumes have red stamens.

queen of the prairie

filipendula rubra

• Native to eastern U.S. Given plenty of moisture and rich soil, can reach 8 feet high in bloom and about half as wide.
• Bears pink plumes.
• Venusta has purplish pink flowers and is a little shorter, to 46 feet high.

meadowsweet, queen of the meadow

filipendula ulmaria

• From Europe, western Asia.
• To 46 feet high and 2 feet wide, with 10 inches., creamy white plumes.
• Flore Pleno, just 3 feet tall, has dense plumes of double white flowers; 'Variegata' is similar, but with gold-speckled leaves.
• Aurea is grown not for flowers but for bright golden leaves; protect from sun.

filipendula vulgaris(Filipendula hexapetala)

• Native to Europe and northern and central Asia.
• White plumes on 3 feet stems rise above 10 inches., fernlike leaves with 1 inches leaflets; mounds reach 112 feet wide.
• Double-flowered 'Multiplex' ('Flore Pleno') has heavier-looking plumes.
• Needs less water than the other species; also prefers full sun in the Upper and Middle South.
• Thrives in alkaline soils.