Filipendula rubra
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Tried and True Recommended by 5 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: queen of the prairie
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Rosaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Native Range: Eastern United States
Garden Location: Lucy and Stanley Lopata Prairie Garden
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Description: Pale pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Leaves: Fragrant
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Deer
Uses: Rain Garden, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers consistently moist, fertile, humusy soils. Intolerant of drought. Appreciates part shade in hot climates. Foliage may scorch in full sun if soils are allowed to dry out. Propagate by dividing clumps in spring. Freely self-seeds and can form large colonies in optimum growing conditions. Flower panicles are best left in place after bloom since deadheading does not extend bloom period. With sufficient moisture, foliage may remain attractive throughout the growing season. If foliage depreciates in summer, cut back hard to promote new growth.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Queen of the prairie is a U.S. native perennial which ranges from Pennsylvania to Georgia and west to Iowa and Missouri. In Missouri, it is only found in several swampy, calcareous meadows in Reynolds County (Steyermark). It is a very tall, upright, clump-forming perennial that typically grows 6-8' tall and features branched, terminal, astilbe-like, 6-9" wide panicles (corymbs) of tiny, fragrant, pale pink flowers in early to mid summer. Deeply cut, compound-pinnate, bright green leaves have 7-9 lance-shaped leaflets each, with an unusually large, 7-9 lobed, terminal leaflet (4-8" long). Leaves are fragrant. A good foliage plant that is valued for both its leaves and its flowers.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Though quite tall, this sturdy plant usually does not need staking.

Garden Uses

This is a large plant for large gardens. Can be spectacular, particularly when massed. Borders (rear), cottage gardens, native plant gardens, wild/naturalized areas, wet meadows or moist areas along streams or ponds.

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