Filipendula 'Elegans'

Filipendula 'Elegans': Frothy Plumes for Squelchy Ground

Fluffy white plumes with red stamens make the whole thing look soft pink from a distance, like cotton candy at the fall fair. 'Elegans' loves wet feet and lives up to its name. FANCY, FRAGRANT AND A LITTLE SOGGY.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Filipendula purpurea 'Elegans'
• Common Name: Japanese Meadowsweet
• Height: 45–75 cm (1.5–2.5 ft)
• Spread: 45–75 cm (1.5–2.5 ft)
• Flowers: Fluffy, fragrant plumes of tiny white flowers with red stamens, giving a soft pink effect
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer (June to August)
• Foliage: Large, deeply lobed, maple-like green leaves
• Features: Loves moist soil

Where to Plant: Plant it beside a pond or stream, in a rain garden, or in any low spot that stays damp, or use it mid-border in a moist bed or at a woodland edge that gets some sun. It is a natural fit for heavy clay that holds water.

Companion Plants: Anemone 'Curtain Call Deep Rose' blooms rose at 36 to 46 cm in August and September, following on from the pink plumes. Lobelia cardinalis adds red spikes at 60 to 120 cm from July to September. Amsonia 'Blue Ice' brings blue stars in May and June. This mix suits sun or part sun and moist garden soil.

Plant Care: Plant in rich, moisture-retentive soil. Clay, loam and most pH levels are fine. The one thing it won't forgive is drying out. In dry soil the leaves scorch and look ragged, so water deeply in summer if rain doesn't do the job, and add a layer of mulch to keep the roots cool. In full sun, steady moisture is essential. Some afternoon shade helps the leaves look their best during hot spells. Cut spent plumes back after flowering if you prefer a tidy look, or leave them for texture. Cut the plant to the ground in late fall or early spring. Divide in early spring every few years if the clump gets crowded.

History: Filipendula purpurea is native to moist, open places in Japan, and the genus name comes from the Latin for thread and hanging, after the small root tubers some species carry on thread-like roots. 'Elegans' is an older garden selection valued for its pale flowers with red stamens.

Final Thoughts: Plant it by the pond or the downspout where everything else drowns. THE DAMP CORNER JUST GOT CLASSY.