Meadowsweet
Filipendula ulmaria
At a glance
Name
Scientific Name
AKA
Frequency
Habitat
Parts Used
Summary
By the end of the summer there is Meadowsweet everywhere in my house. Bags of dried leaves, flowers and seeds fill the house with an amazing smell, ready to be used in a a multitude of ways. It’s in my top 10 favourite wild foragables.
Edibililty & Uses
Meadowsweet is considered generally safe to eat and use, however please note that it contains salicyclic acid – the precursor to aspirin and why its so effective at pain relief. So if you’re avoiding aspirin, I’d seek medical advice first.
Parts Used
Leaves – Edible but with a strong antiseptic flavor that isn’t to everyones taste.
Flowers – ‘THE’ smell of summer. Sweet smelling, with notes of hay, almond, and vanilla; used for flavoring beverages like mead or in desserts.
Seeds – Can be utilized for culinary purposes.
Roots – Used historically for medicinal purposes.
When to forage?
March to May (young shoots and leaves).
June to September (flowers).
September to October (seeds).
Where to forage?
Meadowsweet loves moist environments and is widespread throughout the UK. Ditches are its home. It is also commonly found near water sources, in meadows, and along woodland edges.
