Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)
Filipendula rubra, commonly known as Queen of the Prairie, is a showy native perennial wildflower found in moist prairies, streambanks, fens, and wet meadows in parts of Illinois. It thrives in rich, consistently moist soils and prefers full sun to light shade, making it ideal for rain gardens, naturalized borders, and wetland restoration projects.
This tall, elegant plant features large, deeply lobed leaves and produces dense, airy clusters of fragrant, bright pink flowers atop sturdy stems in early to mid-summer. The flowering clusters can span 6 to 9 inches across and rise on stems reaching 3 to 6 feet in height, creating a dramatic focal point in any planting. Unlike many prairie flowers, Queen of the Prairie is prized as much for its foliage as for its blooms.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Filipendula rubra offers exceptional ornamental and ecological value. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and beetles, and thrives in rain gardens and moist, sunlit edges. Though it spreads by rhizomes, it’s not aggressive and can form attractive colonies when given space. It pairs well with companions like Joe-Pye Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Blue Flag, and Prairie Cordgrass, creating a lush, vibrant wetland or prairie display.
Filipendula rubra, commonly known as Queen of the Prairie, is a showy native perennial wildflower found in moist prairies, streambanks, fens, and wet meadows in parts of Illinois. It thrives in rich, consistently moist soils and prefers full sun to light shade, making it ideal for rain gardens, naturalized borders, and wetland restoration projects.
This tall, elegant plant features large, deeply lobed leaves and produces dense, airy clusters of fragrant, bright pink flowers atop sturdy stems in early to mid-summer. The flowering clusters can span 6 to 9 inches across and rise on stems reaching 3 to 6 feet in height, creating a dramatic focal point in any planting. Unlike many prairie flowers, Queen of the Prairie is prized as much for its foliage as for its blooms.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Filipendula rubra offers exceptional ornamental and ecological value. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and beetles, and thrives in rain gardens and moist, sunlit edges. Though it spreads by rhizomes, it’s not aggressive and can form attractive colonies when given space. It pairs well with companions like Joe-Pye Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Blue Flag, and Prairie Cordgrass, creating a lush, vibrant wetland or prairie display.
Filipendula rubra, commonly known as Queen of the Prairie, is a showy native perennial wildflower found in moist prairies, streambanks, fens, and wet meadows in parts of Illinois. It thrives in rich, consistently moist soils and prefers full sun to light shade, making it ideal for rain gardens, naturalized borders, and wetland restoration projects.
This tall, elegant plant features large, deeply lobed leaves and produces dense, airy clusters of fragrant, bright pink flowers atop sturdy stems in early to mid-summer. The flowering clusters can span 6 to 9 inches across and rise on stems reaching 3 to 6 feet in height, creating a dramatic focal point in any planting. Unlike many prairie flowers, Queen of the Prairie is prized as much for its foliage as for its blooms.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Filipendula rubra offers exceptional ornamental and ecological value. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and beetles, and thrives in rain gardens and moist, sunlit edges. Though it spreads by rhizomes, it’s not aggressive and can form attractive colonies when given space. It pairs well with companions like Joe-Pye Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Blue Flag, and Prairie Cordgrass, creating a lush, vibrant wetland or prairie display.
Bloom: early to mid-summer
Habitats: moist black soil prairies; moist meadows along rivers in woodland areas; moist sand prairies; shrubby fens; wet areas in or around seeps and springs
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: wet to moist
Plant type (height): forb (3 to 6 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: high in organic content (can have a little sand)