Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 2987999

Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Also known as Mead Wort, Queen of the Meadow, Pride of the Meadow, Lady of the Meadow

Meadowsweet fills damp meadows, streambanks, and fens with tall plumes of creamy-white, intensely fragrant blossoms throughout midsummer. Its leaves produce a distinct sweet almond and wintergreen scent when crushed due to natural salicylic acid compounds. These dense floral clusters serve as vital nectar sources for diverse pollinators, particularly syrphid flies and longhorn beetles.

AromaticWetlandFlowering
Meadowsweet reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Sten Porse, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Aphids
  • Deer
ThreatsHabitat loss through wetland drainage, agricultural intensification
HabitatsDamp meadows, riverbanks, fens, wet woodlands
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Classification
  1. FamilyRosaceae
  2. SpeciesFilipendula ulmaria
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Look for dense stands along streams and damp meadows from mid to late summer.
  • Fragrance: Gently rub a leaf to experience its signature sweet wintergreen aroma.
  • Wildlife Watching: Check flower heads during warm sunny afternoons to spot visiting beetles and hoverflies.
Related species
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