What is Meadowsweet?

Meadowsweet is the cut and sifted dried aerial parts of Filipendula ulmaria (formerly classified as Spiraea ulmaria), a sweet-scented meadow herb in the rose family (Rosaceae) native to the damp meadows of Europe and Western Asia. It is also called Queen of the Meadow, Bridewort, and Mead Wort.

About the plant

Meadowsweet is woven into the history of aspirin. In 1839 the chemist Charles Gerhardt isolated salicylic acid from the herb, and when Bayer commercialized the acetylated compound in 1897, the name "aspirin" was coined from "a-" for the acetyl modification plus "-spirin" from Spiraea, the plant's former genus. Historically the herb was strewn on floors for its almond-sweet scent and used to flavor mead.

Meadowsweet: form & sizes

We carry Meadowsweet as organic cut and sifted dried aerial parts, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Meadowsweet in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Meadowsweet at a glance

Botanical name

Filipendula ulmaria

Family

Rosaceae

Native region

Europe and Western Asia

Plant part

aerial parts

Sourcing

Organic

Also known as

Queen of the Meadow, Bridewort, Mead Wort

Former genus

Spiraea

Form

cut and sifted dried aerial parts

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb