Siberian Meadowsweet

Filipendula palmata Origin: Russia Improvement status: Wild Seeds per packet: ~100 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial Siberian meadowseet is a lovely edible and medicinal herbaceous perennial native to far eastern Russia and China. Relatively short woody shrubs with palmate leaves (somewhat resembling buckeye leaves) are topped with astilbe- or spirea-like flowers that are pretty, cloud-like, and pinkish-white. Plants generally grow to 3 or 4 feet tall. In the Russian far east, young meadowsweet leaves are eaten as a spring vegetable. In summer, the leaves and stems are collected to feed to pigs. The plant also has many traditional medicinal uses. Oroqen people in China use it for rheumatism, gout, epilepsy, frostbite, burns, and gynecologic hemostasis. Recent scientific studies have found potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, indicating its likely value in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. It may also potential antitumor applications.