Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet can be found in damp meadows, bogs, along the edge of a pond or river bank, and in woodland that is open and damp.
The perennial herb has a reddish angled stem that branches near the top. It grows up to 47 inches tall. The flowers have five petals and are a creamy white colour. They usually bloom between June and August.
The druids thought meadowsweet was sacred. The herb is found in Chaucer's writing, The Knight's Tale, as a drink ingredient. It was known as meadwort. During Elizabethan times meadowsweet was spread on floors to provide a pleasant odor.
Photo courtesy of Tony Richards
Back to Plant Life in Cumbria
Back to Cumbria Countryside
© 1997 - 2010 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited.
