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Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet
Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet
Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet
Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet
Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet
Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet
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Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet

Spiraea alba var. latifolia

$4.50
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Categories: Shrub, Riparian strips, Native, Medicinal, Nectar-rich, New release, Deer resistant, Perennial

Native range: ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL

For successful seedlings,
see the growing notes at the bottom of the page!

Broad-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. latifolia), also called white meadowsweet, is a shrub native to eastern Canada that typically grows 60 to 150 cm tall. It forms dense clumps of upright stems, sometimes reddish at the base, bearing oval to elliptical, medium-green leaves with pale undersides and finely toothed margins. In summer, it produces conical clusters of numerous small white flowers that attract a wide variety of pollinators. In the fall, its foliage often turns yellowish or reddish. It naturally grows in ditches, wet meadows, stream banks, and open marshes.

Ecological roles
Broad-leaved meadowsweet plays an important role in stabilizing wet soils and stream banks with its dense root system. Its flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, bumblebees, and hoverflies, while its dense branches offer shelter for insects and small birds. Its ability to establish itself in disturbed areas makes it a useful species for ecological restoration in wetlands and grassy ditches.

 

Broad-leaved meadowsweet seeds require cold stratification to ensure germination. See the growing notes below for more details.

Akène cannot assume any responsibility for the use of plants for therapeutic purposes. Always seek advice from a professional before using a medicinal or edible plant.

Growing Notes | Seeds - Broad-leaved Meadowsweet

Broad-leaved meadowsweet grows in full sun or part shade, in moist to wet soils ranging from sandy to clayey, as long as they remain well drained. It does not tolerate drought.

The seeds require scarification by soaking and a 60-day cold and moist stratification period to germinate.
Scarification: Soak the seeds in water at room temperature for 24 hours to soften the seed coat.
Stratification: The seeds then require a cold and moist stratification period of about 60 days. To do this, mix the seeds with a moist substrate (such as vermiculite), place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag, and refrigerate it for this period. This step can also be carried out naturally by sowing outdoors in the fall.

Sow the seeds on the soil surface without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Keep the substrate evenly moist until emergence. Germination generally occurs after about 30 days.

Seeds per packet: 300

Family: Rosaceae

Scientific name: Spiraea alba var. latifolia

Life cycle: Perennial

Hardiness zone: 2

Soil type: All types

Soil moisture level: Medium to humid

Soil - additional attributes: Well-drained.

Drought tolerance: Low

Light: Sun, part shade

Blooming: June to July

Spacing: 60 cm

Height: 150 cm

Deer resistance: High

Stratification: 60 days

Scarification: Soaking for 24 hours

Germination time: 30 days

Sowing depth: Surface

Reproductive system: Hermaphrodite