Spiraea ulmaria, Ulmaria pentapetala, meadowsweet, meadwort, pride of the meadow, meadow-wort, meadow queen, lady of the meadow, dollof, meadsweet, and bridewort (WFO 2022).

In Falinska (1995), stages of clonal colony growth were identified. Colony establishment occurs for two or three growing seasons during which time the leaf rosette and the root system develop. During the subsequent growing seasons, 10-20% of plants produce one or two flowering shoots. Buried  seeds may remain viable for up to a year if in soil that is not waterlogged, however viability in a group of seeds is reduced to 10% or lower after two years (Bekker et al. 1998). The addition of phosphorus into soil appears to have a positive effect on germination rates (Bekker et al. 1998).

F. ulmaria has three known natural enemies. The rust pathogen Triphragmium ulmariae targets the petioles of F. ulmaria and causes mortality, primarily in seedlings. The other two are leaf beetles, Altica engstroemi J. Sahlberg and Galerucella. tenella (L.) (Wisconsin DNR 2011). These species are native to Eurasia. While consumed by herbivores such as moose and deer, those species do not show a preference for F. ulmaria (Axelsson and Stenberg 2014, Missouri Botanical Garden 2022).

Potential pathway(s) of introduction: Natural dispersal, hitchhiking, unauthorized or intentional release, stocking, planting, escape from recreational culture, and escape from commercial culture.

F. ulmaria is already present in the Great Lakes region as it is sold at plant nurseries within the region and available for purchase via online vendors to gardeners who value its hardiness and attractiveness to pollinators (Stanton et al 2010; Hawkins et al. 2015). It is most likely that the plant will escape recreational cultivation through accidental planting and rhizomal spread. The seeds, measuring 2-3mm in diameter, may be spread through hitchhiking on boots and gardening equipment. Seeds can also be transported by water but are unlikely to germinate while completely submerged.

Filipendula ulmaria has a moderate probability of establishment if introduced to the Great Lakes (Confidence level: High).

F. ulmaria’s native range in Europe and Asia includes areas climatically similar to the Great Lakes region. It is frost tolerant, anoxia tolerant, and able to grow in low nutrient conditions (Barclay & Crawford 1982; Braendle & Crawford 1987). While it prefers alkaline soils, the species can grow in a wide range of soil pH levels and is categorized as a generalist (Pauli et al. 2002). The species often outcompetes other organisms in its native habitat, becoming the dominant species in meadows or fens (Cherednichenko and Borodulina 2018).

However, climate change could make the Great Lakes basin less hospitable for the species. The species is not drought tolerant and requires shade (Nazrul-Islam 1983, Wisconsin DNR 2011). Increasing temperatures and increasing drought frequency and intensity would reduce the amount of habitat available for F. ulmaria to colonize. The species does not possess significant tolerance for salinity. Small amounts of saltwater reduce germination rates to near zero (Hanslin and Eggen, 2005). Rising salinity in the Great Lakes basin due to road salt runoff would slow establishment of the species.

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Environmental	Beneficial

The species is able to outcompete species for habitat, nutrients, and light, often becoming the dominant species in fen, marsh, and wet-soil meadow ecosystems. In Axelsson and Stenberg (2014), native fireweed had lower flowering rates, growth rates, branching patterns, and survival rates inside of F. ulmaria patches compared to outside of meadowsweet patches regardless of the presence of herbivores. The same study also found evidence of F. ulmaria altering predator-prey relationships between fireweed and moose. F. ulmaria conferred associational resistance to fireweed plants in close proximity to F. ulmaria patches, reducing herbivory by moose (Axelsson and Stenberg 2014). F. ulmaria is also a vector of two invertebrate species,  Altica engstroemi J. Sahlberg and Galerucella tenella (L.) that feed upon strawberry plants (Stenberg and Axelsson, 2008). Introduction of live plants from Europe could release those species into the Great Lakes region.

There is little or no evidence to support that Filipendula ulmaria has the potential for significant socioeconomic impacts if introduced to the Great Lakes.

Filipendula ulmaria has the potential for high beneficial impact if introduced to the Great Lakes.

Pollinators show preference to F. ulmaria flowers (Hawkins et al. 2015). The plant also functions as an important microhabitat.  Insect communities in F. ulmaria plants numbered 26 unique species employing a variety of life history strategies (Dreyer and Kirsch 1987). The species also assists in reducing nutrient loads. When placed in buffer strips surrounding agricultural fields, the presence of F. ulmaria aided the uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen (Kuusemets et al. 2001).

The species also possesses several medicinal and research applications. Meadowsweet has long been used by herbalists for its anti-inflammatory properties. The flowers contain tannins and salicylates and are thought to mildly reduce pain and fever. They have also been used to treat stomach complaints, such as heartburn. Some research in laboratory animals has been conducted to investigate their effectiveness for ulcers, but results are not conclusive (Flora of North America, 2022).Recent research of F. ulmaria and the compounds within the plants revealed additional properties. F. ulmaria extract is an effective inhibitor of colorectal carcinogenesis, reducing the formation of tumors and the frequency of malignant tumor growth (Bespalov et al. 2018). Extracts of F. ulmaria inhibited the growth of cell lines associated with melanoma, lung cancer, and breast adenocarcinoma (Lima et al. 2014). Extracts of the plant have also shown promise in the development of treatments for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (Neagu et al. 2015). F. ulmaria was also identified as possessing multiple antimicrobial compounds with the potential to be used in antimicrobial biofilm products (French et al. 2018).

This species is widely available online in the ornamental and herbal medicine trades. Besides seeds and live plants, it is possible to buy ground herbs and essential oil products infused with F. ulmaria.

This species is not on the Illinois Aquatic Life Approved Species List and is illegal to be imported or possessed alive without a permit (515 ILCS 5/20-90).

It is a restricted species in Wisconsin, where there is a ban on the transport, transfer and introduction of this species, but possession is allowed (Chapter NR 40, Wis. Adm. Code)

Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Control

Biological

No known biological control methods for this species are in use. However, F. ulmaria is a host for the fungus Triphragmium ulmariae, which causes meadowsweet rust gall on the petioles of plants, leading to chemically-induced swelling and often plant death, especially in seedlings (Burdon et al. 1995).

Physical

Physical control methods center on digging up and removing the entire plant, ensuring that the root system is removed, otherwise there is a risk of a regeneration via the rhizomes. Mowing the shoots can temporarily stunt growth, but over the course of a growing season the plant will regenerate (Kolos and Banaszuk 2021). Kolos and Banaszuk (2021) also found that mowing fields of F. ulmaria annually can lead to increases in its coverage.

Chemical

Herbicides containing glyphosate and mecoprop are effective in managing F. ulmaria populations (Marrs et al. 1989, Russo et al. 2020). However, F. ulmaria occasionally demonstrated a resistance to low levels of herbicide, increasing the odds that non-target species will be affected by herbicide applications (Marrs et al. 1989).

Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.