Filipendula rubra 'Venusta'
(Queen of the Prairie)

Family - Rosaceae
Category - Perennial
Year of Introduction - 1853
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - 1.5m
Width - 1.2m
Location - The Cool Garden

Description: A clump-forming, herbaceous Perennial with tall, vertical stems. Mid to dark green, pinnate leaves have ovate to palmately lobed leaflets with coarsely-toothed margins. The leaves held on the upper parts of the stem are all palmately lobed. Small, saucer-shaped flowers are soft rose-pink, and each Bloom has a deep pink central Eye. Each flower also has a central cluster of long, prominent stamens which, collectively, help to give the inflorescence a frothy appearance. The masses of small flowers are held in stout panicles atop slender, but strong upright stems and are produced in midsummer. The seedheads deepen to red and remain attractive on the plant into autumn. Attractive to pollinating insects.

Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Synonyms - Filipendula rubra 'Magnifica', F. rubra 'Veusta Magnifica', Spiraea venusta 'Magnifica'

Gallery Images:

Flower:

Small, saucer-shaped blooms are soft rose-pink, and each bloom has a deep pink central eye. Each flower also has a cluster of long, prominent stamens which, collectively, give the inflorescence a frothy appearance. Masses of flowers are held in stout panicles and are produced atop slender, but quite sturdy vertical stems in June and July. The seed heads deepen to red with age and remain attractive on the plant into autumn.

Flower colour: Pink

Flower shape: Small, saucer-shaped flowers in panicles

Flowering time: June, July

Foliage:

Mid to dark green leaves are pinnate with variably-shaped leaflets. The leaflets all have Dentate margins and may be ovate, or palmately lobed in shape. The leaflet at the tip is palmately lobed. The leaves held on the upper parts of the stems are all palmately lobed and also have Dentate margins. The leaves are Alternately arranged on the strong, vertical stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Palmately lobed, pinnate with ovate to palmately lobed leaflets

Propagation:

Division, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun to partial shade in reasonably fertile, moisture-retentive soil, but will also tolerate soil that is well-drained.