Filipendula rubra Queen of the Prairie

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

Visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website for the natural range of Filipendula rubra Listed as Endangered: New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, North Carolina. Threatened in : Michigan and Iowa
Filipendula rubra the focal point by Roger Dahlin

Cultivation Information Queen of the Prairie

Which is this, Cotton Candy or Queen of the Prairie flowers?

Height - 3 to 4 feet Flower Color - Pink Sun - Full to Part SunHardy Zone - 3 to 7Blooms - June - July Perennial
Soil - Moist - Suitable for rain gardens
pH -5.0 to 6.0Hardy Zone - 4 to 7
Family - Rosaceae Over the Years - Queen of the Prairie deserves such a regal name; their pink plumes are truly the envy of the prairie. I discovered this the hard way, that this royal gem requires moisture to look her best. As an experiment, a mature plant was planted in one of our gardens that is dry and receives almost a full day’s worth of sun. Since she was struggling, I transplanted her into a more suitable location.
Filipendula rubra - early spring buds
Seed Provenance Filipendula rubra
Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN - 2010 - Nodding Onion Gardens - 2011 to present
Queen of the Prairie was planted a tad too close to the end of our driveway. One must use extreme caution when backing out!
Wildlife Significance Queen of the Prairie
Pollen Source - Bees - long and Short tongued bees collect pollen, flies, beetles feed on pollen, great source of protein
Nectar - Not a source of nectar
Deer - Aren't crazy about Queen of the Prairie
For detailed information, visit the Illinois Wildflower website.
Maybe this Gray Tree Frog is the Queen's Prince?
Gray Tree Frog
A few years back, we discovered this Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor) perfectly camouflaged on our raspberry plants, which were in proximity to the Queen of the Prairie. Like this frog, Queen of the Prairie thrives in a moist environment, either in the form of a rain garden or a marshy location. I am guessing both would settle for a vernal pool!
Propagation Notes Queen of the Prairie
Stratifying Seeds
1. Zip lock plastic bag2. Few tablespoons of Vermiculite3. Dampen vermiculite - not soggy4. Store in refrigerator for 90 days Seeds require cold moist storage in order to germinate Outdoors - We have had good luck allowing Queen of the Prairie to self-seed, transplanting seedlings in early spring. Or build a small cold frame, sowing seeds in the fall. This will help protect seed from mammals and heavy rain in the spring. Collecting seed - It is important to keep an eye on maturing seed, wait until the seed has changed from green to brown before collecting. Taking a bit over a period of a few weeks seems to help viability.
Seed ready to harvest! Dry seed in a paper bag
Store in an airtight container, label with year and species name.
Ohio Department of Agriculture Nursery Inspection 2010 - 2024
© 2023 Nodding Onion Gardens, LLCColumbia Station, Ohio 44028I