Filipendula vulgaris - Dropwort

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.75
Width:	0.4
Synonyms:	F. hexapetala. Spiraea filipendula. Ulmaria filipendula.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, Siberia and the Caucasus.

Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.75m and a width of 0.4m . It has a hardness rating of 3and is vunerable to frost.
Dropwort will flower in November to February. the seeds ripen from January 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

Dropwort will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important 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
Dropwort prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Dropwort should not be planted in shady areas.

Dry pastures on limestone or chalky soils[4].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained moisture retentive soil[200]. Dislikes shade[17]. Tolerates dry soils[200]. Grows well on calcareous soils[17]. The flowers are sweetly scented and are very attractive to bees[245]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Young leaves - raw or cooked[61, 177, 200]. They can be added to salads and soups[183]. Root - raw or cooked[61, 115, 177, 200]. Rather bitter[5]. Astringent[100]. Best if roasted[141]. A famine food, it is only used in times of scarcity[183].

• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root is anthelmintic and lithontripic. It is used in the treatment of epilepsy, kidney and bladder stones, genital discharges and intestinal worms[61].

• Anthelmintic - Expels parasites from the gut.
• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Lithontripic - Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.

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.

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

Plants can be used as a ground cover when planted about 45cm apart each way[208]. The cultivar 'Flore Pleno' with sweetly scented double flowers has been recommended[208].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

'Flore Pleno' - This cultivar, growing to about 60cm tall with sweetly scented double flowers, has been recommended for use as a ground cover plant[200, 208].

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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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