Filipendula rubra - Queen Of The Prairie

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	2.5
Width:	1.25
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - Pennsylvania to Georgia, west to Michigan and Iowa.

Filipendula rubra (Queen Of The Prairie) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 2.5m and a width of 1.25m . It has a hardness rating of 2.
Queen Of The Prairie will flower in January to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, self

Soil Information

Queen Of The Prairie will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Queen Of The Prairie prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Queen Of The Prairie can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Moist meadows and bogs[222].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Suits a meadow
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a humus-rich moist soil in semi-shade[200]. Succeeds in full sun only if the soil is reliably moist throughout the growing season[200]. Dislikes dry or acid soils[1, 17]. Does well in marshy soils[24, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. Although the plants are perfectly hardy in Britain, they appreciate the winter protection of bracken or some similar mulch when grown in areas of prolonged frosts[200]. Plants spread fairly freely and form large clumps[233]. There is at least one named variety, selected for its ornamental value[200]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[24, 30]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root is rich in tannin, it is used as an astringent in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, bleeding etc[222]. It has also been used in the treatment of various heart complaints[257]. The plant probably contains salicylic acid, the chemical forerunner of aspirin[222]. This is anti-inflammatory and analgesic[222].

• Analgesic - Relieves pain.
• Antiinflammatory - Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Cardiac - Used in the treatment of heart problems.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame[1]. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in spring, germinating best at a temperature of 10 - 13°c[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown enough. If not, keep them in a cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring. Division in autumn or winter[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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