Filipendula ulmaria Variegata

Filipendula ulmaria 'variegata' is a perennial with multiple advantages. It is appreciated for its yellow-golden and green foliage as well as its flowering in clusters of creamy white misty flowers. It is ideal for meadows and mixed borders.

The Queen of the Meadows is a rhizomatous perennial native to Europe and Asia Minor, reaching a height of 60 cm (24in) and a spread. In 'Variegata', the large compound leaves with dentate margins are alternately arranged on reddish erect stems. They are irregularly coloured from yellow-gold in the center of the leaf to medium green on the leaf edges. During the months of June to August, the plume-like inflorescences composed of tiny creamy white flowers bloom on simple or branched stems well above the foliage. It is a small, coloured mist.

Queen of the Meadows 'Variegata' is robust and hardy, it likes moist, humus-bearing, ordinary and marshy soils. In poor or dry soil, it tends to be more susceptible to mildew.

It prefers sunny exposures but tolerates light shade. It is a very good companion in borders and pots, but is also used as a cut flower. It blends very well with heleniums, bear's breeches or astilbes.

Filipendula ulmaria is a medicinal plant. It has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antispasmodic, healing and analgesic properties.