Meadowsweet [Filipendula ulmaria]

The perennial meadowsweet is a very old traditional tea and medicinal plant and is considered an effective natural painkiller. One of the sacred plants of the Druids, for moist locations. Ideal for direct sowing, no pot culture, sowing in spring, good for mixed culture, harvesting the roots, flowers and leaves.

 Description 
Meadowsweet is a perennial, wild tea and medicinal plant with a long history. This wild plant, which is native to large areas of Europe, grows in nature mainly in wet meadows, ditches and stream banks, as well as in alder-ash forests. Along with verbena, mugwort, and watercress, meadowsweet is one of the four sacred herbs of the Celtic Druids. This effective herb is a natural source of acetylsalicylic acid, which is known today from the painkiller aspirin. The strikingly sweet-smelling, creamy-white flowers can be used to make a delicious fever-reducing tea. When in bloom, the flower panicles smell wonderfully of honey and vanilla, and are also visited by numerous insects. Meadowsweet is ideal for natural planting by a pond or in damp areas in the garden, as it is robust and competitive.

 General information 
Plant family: Rosaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 160 days
Plant height approx.: 150 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: Medium
Water requirements: High
Winter hardiness: Up to -25°C
Location: Sunny until semi shady
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 6 to 7

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Light germinator
Sowing depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 10-20 °C
Germination time: 10-18 days
Plant and row spacing: 40x50 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 2-3 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: -
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing from January to April is recommended. The plants are best placed in a sunny to partially shaded location.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from February to April is recommended. The plants are best placed in a sunny to partially shaded location.

 General recommendations 
Direct sowing is recommended. After germination, thin out the plants to the specified plant spacing.
Meadowsweet does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, it is recommended to add biochar and rock flour.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
No maintenance required. Fertilization is recommended every 6 months.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Filipendula ulmaria, Spiraea ulmaria
English names: Meadowsweet
German names: Großes Mädesüß
Portuguese names: Ulmária
Spanish names: Herba ulmeira
French names: Reine-des-prés

 Origin 
Country: Germany