Meadowsweet Filipendula 'Kahome'
ABOUT
Filipendula 'Kahome' is a charming perennial plant renowned for its attractive foliage and blooms. The leaves of this plant are deeply divided, creating an intricate, almost fern-like appearance. They are typically a rich green color that adds a lush backdrop to the delicate flowers. The flowers themselves are small, fluffy, and often a soft pink hue, forming in clusters on branching stems that rise above the foliage. These blossomy cloud-like clusters contribute to a whimsical and airy aesthetic, reminiscent of cottage gardens. The overall look of Filipendula 'Kahome' is elegant yet robust, providing a beautiful texture and color contrast when planted among other garden inhabitants. Its foliage tends to form a dense, bushy mound, while the flowers, blooming in abundance, create a gentle, frothy effect that can soften the landscape and add a touch of romance. This plant thrives in environments that mimic its natural habitat, often favoring settings where it can bask in sunlight with ample moisture. The foliage is known to be relatively disease-resistant, retaining its attractiveness throughout the growing seasons.
About this plant
- Names
Family
Rosaceae
Synonyms
Dwarf Meadowsweet, Kahome Meadowsweet
Common names
Filipendula 'Kahome'.
- Toxicity
To humans
Filipendula 'Kahome', commonly known as meadowsweet, is not known to be toxic to humans. It has been used historically in traditional medicine, and no significant toxic effects are reported when consumed in moderate amounts. However, as with any plant, individual allergies or sensitivities might exist.
To pets
Meadowsweet is not commonly listed as a toxic plant to pets. However, as with any non-food plant, ingestion in large quantities could potentially cause gastrointestinal upset in some animals. Pets with specific sensitivities could experience more pronounced symptoms, but general toxicity is not widely recognized for this plant.
- Characteristics
Life cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
2 feet (60 cm)
Spread
1 foot 6 inches (45 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
Eurasia
Benefits
- General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: The Filipendula 'Kahome', commonly known as Meadowsweet, produces flowers which are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, thereby supporting biodiversity.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Meadowsweet offers ornamental value to gardens with its feathery foliage and clusters of small, pink flowers that add color and texture.
- Easy to Grow: This plant is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance once established, making it suitable for novice gardeners.
- Tolerates Moist Soil: Meadowsweet thrives in moist soil conditions, making it an ideal choice for planting in damp areas of the garden or near water features.
- Erosion Control: The dense growth habit of Meadowsweet can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion, especially in wetter areas.
- Wildlife Habitat: Meadowsweet can provide shelter and nesting sites for various insects and small wildlife within its dense foliage.
- Long Blooming Period: The plant has a long flowering period from early to late summer, providing sustained color in the garden.
- Durable Perennial: As a hardy perennial, Meadowsweet returns year after year, reducing the need for annual replanting.
- Companion Planting: Meadowsweet can be planted alongside other moisture-loving plants to create a harmonious and visually appealing water garden or bog garden space.
- Medical Properties
- Anti-inflammatory: Some species of Filipendula, such as Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet), are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is limited information about 'Kahome' specifically in this regard.
- Analgesic: Meadowsweet has been used for its pain-relieving properties, but again, the medical use of Filipendula 'Kahome' in this context is not well documented.
- Antipyretic: Traditional use of meadowsweet includes its use as a fever reducer, but specific evidence for Filipendula 'Kahome' is not available.
- Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
- Other Uses
- Culinary garnish: The delicate flowers of the meadowsweet can be used to garnish desserts and add an aesthetic touch to plating.
- Natural dye: Meadowsweet can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, yielding colors in soft pink to beige tones.
- Aromatic potpourri: Dried meadowsweet flowers can contribute a sweet aroma to homemade potpourri blends.
- Floral water: Distill the blooms to create a floral water that can be used for a light fragrance or in homemade cosmetics.
- Companion planting: Meadowsweet can attract beneficial insects and may help deter pests in the garden.
- Crafts and decorations: The flowers and foliage of meadowsweet can be incorporated into floral arrangements, wreaths, and other crafts.
- Photography: Meadowsweet provides a picturesque backdrop or subject matter for nature photography.
- Environmental education: The plant can be used as a teaching tool to discuss pollinators and native flora in its natural habitat.
- Soil improvement: Meadowsweet can be planted to help improve soil quality and prevent erosion.
- Candle making: Scented oils extracted from meadowsweet's blossoms can be used in making homemade candles.
Interesting Facts
- Feng Shui
The Meadowsweet is not used in Feng Shui practice.
- Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Meadowsweet is not used in astrology practice.
- Plant Symbolism
- Purity: Filipendula flowers, often referred to as Meadowsweets, are commonly associated with purity due to their delicate and clean appearance.
- Peace: The lush green foliage and calming presence of the plant symbolize peace and tranquility in a garden setting.
- Courtship: In historical folklore, Meadowsweets were used in love potions and were thought to attract love, making them a symbol of courtship.
- Protection: Traditionally, these plants were thought to have protective qualities, with people using them to ward off evil spirits or negative energies.
- Water
Meadowsweet 'Kahome' prefers consistent moisture, so water it deeply once or twice a week, providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time, particularly during dry spells. The soil should be kept evenly moist, but take care not to overwater and ensure proper drainage to prevent root rot. In hotter seasons or dryer climates, you may need to increase the frequency of watering. Adjust your watering schedule based on rainfall, and during the winter, reduce watering as the plant's water needs decrease.
- Light
Meadowsweet 'Kahome' thrives in full sun to partial shade. The ideal spot for this plant would be an area where it can enjoy sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. However, it can also tolerate some shade, especially in the hotter parts of the afternoon. Avoid deep shade locations as this can lead to poor flowering and a leggy growth habit.
- Temperature
The ideal temperature for Meadowsweet 'Kahome' would be between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this hardy perennial can survive minimum temperatures down around -30 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure robust growth and flowering, keep the plant in an area that avoids extreme heat and cold.
- Pruning
Prune Meadowsweet 'Kahome' in late winter or early spring to remove any dead or damaged stems and to maintain a tidy shape. Pruning can also be done after the first flush of flowers to encourage a second blooming. Typically, cutting back by about a third is sufficient. Remove spent flower heads to prevent self-seeding if desired.
- Cleaning
As needed
- Soil
Meadowsweet 'Kahome' prefers a moist, fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of around 5.5 to 7. A mix of loamy garden soil, peat, and perlite in equal parts can create an ideal environment for this perennial.
- Repotting
Meadowsweet 'Kahome' typically does not require frequent repotting and can be done every 2-3 years to replenish soil nutrients and accommodate growth.
- Humidity & Misting
Meadowsweet 'Kahome' thrives in average to high humidity levels, similar to its native damp meadow habitat.
- Suitable locations
Indoor
Use bright, indirect light and keep soil consistently moist.
Outdoor
Plant in part shade, moist soil, and protect from afternoon sun.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
- Life cycle
The Kahome Meadowsweet, a perennial herb, initiates its life cycle when it germinates from seeds in the spring, given adequate moisture and light conditions. Once established, the seedlings grow into clumps of foliage with deeply toothed leaves. Throughout the growing season, which is mainly late spring to summer, it develops tall stems that bear clusters of small, fragrant pink flowers. After pollination, mainly by insects, these flowers produce small fruits (achenes) that disperse to propagate the next generation. As a perennial, the above-ground parts die back to the ground level in autumn, with the plant surviving the winter as a root system or as basal rosettes. With the return of favorable conditions in the next spring, the plant resumes growth from its rootstock or overwintering buds, completing its life cycle and beginning a new growth cycle.
- Propogation
Propogation time
Late summer to autumn
Propogation: Filipendula 'Kahome', commonly known as Meadowsweet, is propagated primarily via division. The best time for this method is either in early spring or autumn when the plant is not actively flowering. To propagate by division, gently dig up the clumps of the plant, ensuring that there are several shoots and a healthy root system attached. Using a sharp knife or spade, slice through the clump to separate it into smaller sections, each with roots and shoots. Replant these divisions immediately into well-prepared soil, spacing them about 18 inches (approximately 45 centimeters) apart to allow for growth. Water the new plants thoroughly to establish them. This method of propagation maintains the characteristics of the parent plant and allows gardeners to quickly increase their stock.