Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria

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Description

Fairly tall erect plant to 1.5 metres. Often forming large clumps. Large heads of small (4 to 8 mm) creamy white, sweetly scented flowers, usually with 5 petals and many stamens. Fruits twisted, in clusters. Leaves with up to 5 pairs of leaflets, greyer beneath.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Damp habitats, wet ditches, river and stream margins.

When to see it

June to September.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Common throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 571 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Graham Calow
    Foot of Croft Hill
    29 August 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Wykin Canal Towpath
    26 June 2015
  • Craig Mabbett
    Broughton Astley brook
    23 September 2014
    fruits are twisted
  • Graham Calow
    Wykin Canal Towpath
    26 June 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    30 June 2008
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby Balancing Pond
    24 May 2014

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Meadowsweet
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
465
First record:
01/01/1979 (Patricia Evans)
Last record:
17/04/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields
    06 August 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    02 July 2006
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby Disused Railway
    09 July 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Lea Meadows
    07 July 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Cloud Wood
    24 June 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Broughton Astley
    24 June 2011
  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields
    06 August 2016
  • HAPeacock
    River Soar - St Marys Mill
    14 June 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby, canal
    25 June 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    04 July 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    LOng Clawson
    07 July 2012
  • HAPeacock
    River Soar - St Marys Mill
    12 July 2012
  • HAPeacock
    River Soar - St Marys Mill
    12 July 2012
  • HAPeacock
    River Soar - St Marys Mill
    12 July 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Clawson Hill
    12 July 2012
  • kthgodw
    Field rear St Mary's Church BA
    17 July 2012
  • Fran Marsland
    Broughton Astley
    17 July 2012
  • HAPeacock
    River Soar - St Mary's Mills
    02 July 2013