Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria

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Edible plant - novice

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Other common names: Mead Wort, Queen of the Meadow, Pride of the Meadow, Meadow Wort, Bridewort, Dollof, Meadsweet, Meadow Queen, Lady of the Meadow

 

Scientific name meaning: Filipendula has its origins in the Latin "filum", meaning thread, and "pendulus" meaning to hang down. This is a reference to the way the tubers of the plant hang on thread-like roots when uprooted. 

Ulmaria comes from New Latin and is the mediaeval name for Goat's Beard - a plant with elm-like leaves, which Meadowsweet's leaves resemble

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Season Spring to Autumn

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Habitat - where will I find it? A native of Britain and Europe, Meadowsweet likes moist habitats. It is often found near water and in damp meadows. However, it does not grow on acidic peat

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Description - what does it look like? The long leaves of Meadowsweet grow from a basal rosette. The have red stems and serrated crinkled pairs of leaflets along the stem length. In between these leaflets are much smaller intermediate leaflets. 

In summer, flower stalks emerge, which can reach up to 2m in good growth conditions, that are topped with an inflorescence of frothy white flowers.

The entire plant smells strongly of antiseptic due to the methyl salicylate it contains

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Possible lookalikes Dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris) - not to be confused with the Apiaceae dropworts - could be confused with Meadowsweet, but its leaves are much more fern-like in appearance

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Use as a food The flowers can be used to make cordial, syrup, jelly and tea infusions. They have been historically used to flavoured mead and beer, but can be used to make a liquour.

The young leave can be cooked and eaten, but the flavour is not great!

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Use in herbal medicine Due to its high concentration of salycilic acid, Meadowsweet was used in the past to make the painkiller Aspirin. However, it is now lab synthesised. The name is actually derived from the former genus name of Meadowsweet: Spiraea.

Additionally, it has been used to treat diarrhoea, gastric problems, sores, ulcers, respiratory disorders, fevers, and colds, and as a iduretic, astringent and antiseptic
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner

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Hazards Those with under the age of 12, or who have an Aspirin sensitivity, or suffer from a blood thinning disorder or asthma, or those on blood thinning tablets should avoid Meadowsweet. It should also be avoided during all stages of pregnancy and nursing.

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Importance to other species The flowers provide a source of nectar for many pollinators and a food source for various beetles

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Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!