Gardening Flowers Perennials How to Plant and Grow Queen of the Prairie This perennial will become a regal presence in your garden when your spring-blooming plants fade. By Megan Hughes Megan Hughes Megan Hughes has a passion for plants that drives her to stay on top of the latest garden advancements and time-tested ways of growing great plants. She travels regularly to learn about new plants and technology and is closely connected to the innovation side of the horticulture industry. She has more than 25 years of experience in horticulture. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Sharon Greenthal Sharon Greenthal Sharon is a writer and contributor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she writes, edits, and updates content on the website, refreshing recipes and articles about home design, holiday planning, gardening, and other topics. Before joining Better Homes & Gardens, Sharon began her career as a blogger, then became a freelance writer, focusing on home design and organization, midlife and empty nesting, and seniors and eldercare. Her work has been published on a range of websites, including Angi, Purple Clover, HuffPost, Grown and Flown, Seniors Matter, AARP’s the Girlfriend and the Ethel, and many other outlets. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 29, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Companion Plants FAQ Close Count on queen of the prairie, also called meadowsweet, to pick up the floral show in your garden when spring-blooming perennials peter out. In midsummer, cloudlike clusters of pink or white blooms rise above the ferny, toothed leaves of this North American native. Although the fluffy flower stalks look delicate, this tall, sturdy perennial will stand up to wind and various tough soil conditions. Its flowers hold their color and shape for three weeks or more, moving the garden from mid- to late summer. 14 Extra-Tall Perennial Flowers to Add Height to Your Garden Queen of the Prairie Overview Genus Name Filipendula rubra Common Name Queen of the Prairie Plant Type Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 3 to 4 feet Flower Color Pink, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Propagation Division, Seed Problem Solvers Deer Resistant, Slope/Erosion Control Where to Plant Queen of the Prairie Place these tall plants near the back of the garden so the green divided leaves create a backdrop for other flowering plants. It's also a good choice for creating a living screen or fence. Plant it near your property line where it will enclose your space with frothy flowers. Native to wetlands, this perennial will also thrive in rain gardens. Pair queen of the prairie with other North American native plants for easy-care plant combinations that are wildlife-friendly and beckon pollinators. Evoke a meadow in your landscape by planting queen of the prairie alongside spider flower, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, salvia, lobelia, and aster. For an eye-catching texture contrast, add regional grasses. A few striking examples include 'Cheyenne Sky' switch grass, 'Carousel' little bluestem, and blue sedge. How and When to Plant Queen of the Prairie Plant this perennial from transplants purchased at your local garden center because it can be tough to germinate indoors from seed. Dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container. Mix some compost into the soil. Remove the plant and loosen the roots from the root ball before placing in the hole. Backfill with the mixed soil, tamp lightly, and water well. Space several plants 2 feet apart. Queen of the prairie rarely needs staking. Queen of the Prairie Care Tips Light Plant in full sun or part shade. It will flower best when sited in a sunny spot but will appreciate a bit of afternoon shade in hot climates. Soil and Water For strong growth and robust flowering, plant queen of the prairie in moist, well-drained soil. It does well in rich garden soil but will excel in a damp setting that mimics its native habitat. Ensure that it receives ample watering during dry spells. How to Make Homemade Potting Soil Temperature and Humidity As a prairie native, this plant can handle temperature and humidity extremes. It can handle cold winters and hot summers but is not suited to arid climates. Fertilizer Queen of the prairie likes a rich, fertile soil. Add a top-dressing of compost in the spring around the roots and mix into the soil when planting new specimens. Pruning Skip deadheading if you don't mind self-seeding; it doesn't promote reblooming and the faded flower heads are a lovely accent in the fall garden. Cut the flower stalks down to the ground in late fall or early spring before new growth begins. Potting and Repotting Queen of the Prairie This is a large and tall plant that isn't really suited to container culture. Pests and Problems Queen of the prairie is generally low-maintenance and problem-free. Japanese beetles and powdery mildew trouble queen of the prairie occasionally. Your plants will usually recover the following year but cut foliage back in late summer if it becomes unsightly. Make sure that your plants are spaced well to provide good air circulation. Deer generally won't bother this plant. How to Propagate Queen of the Prairie The plant grows best when undisturbed; there is rarely a need to dig up and divide it, but if you divide queen of the prairie, expect the plant to grow slowly for a couple of years before it returns to its former state. To divide queen of the prairie, dig it up and keep plenty of soil around the roots. Check to make sure there's at least one healthy root shoot per division. Use a sharp knife or shears to divide with clean cuts. Once divided, replant the divisions at the same depth in the soil they were when you dug them up and water generously. The plant self-seeds freely and can form a large colony if given the best conditions. Growing by seed indoors isn't as reliable—it requires cold stratification and up to several months for germination. Types of Queen of the Prairie Plant breeders are currently working on selecting more varieties of this North American native. Check your local garden center for petite varieties that reach a mature height of only 2 to 3 feet tall. has striking deep pink to red flowers that will spice up your garden. Queen of the prairie 'Albicans' 'Albicans' has showy white flowers on top of 5- to 6-foot-tall stems Queen of the prairie 'Venusta' 'Venusta' has striking deep pink to red flowers that will spice up your garden. Queen of the Prairie Companion Plants Perennial Salvia Stephen Cridland There are hundreds of different types of salvias, commonly called sage, but they all tend to share tall flower spikes and often gray-green leaves. Countless sages (including the herb used in cooking) are available to decorate ornamental gardens, and new selections appear annually. They're valued for their long bloom season—right up until frost. Dense or loose spires of tubular flowers in bright blues, violets, yellow, pinks, and red form on square stems clothed with often aromatic leaves. Zones 3-10 Lobelia Lynn Karlin Colorful lobelias are excellent for landscaping around ponds and streams—anywhere the soil is consistently moist. Lobelia loves wet conditions, making it a top choice for bog gardens. Perennial types of lobelia (not to be confused with the low-growing, often blue annual types) attract hummingbirds, so they're great for wildlife gardens. The foliage is a rich green to sometimes dark reddish-purple. The plant produces impressive spikes of flowers in red, pink, blue, and white shades. Zones 2-10 Joe Pye weed All you have to do with Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is plant it and stand back. This robust perennial needs little coddling and develops masses of mauve flower heads in the late summer and fall. Joe Pye is a plant that likes wet soil and has no insect or disease problems. Joe Pye weed's nectar-rich blooms also are a butterfly favorite. This plant can grow 5-8 feet tall, so if you want something a little shorter than queen of the prairie, look for the dwarf variety 'Little Joe' that only grows 3-4 feet tall. Frequently Asked Questions How big does queen of the prairie get? Queen of the prairie can reach a lofty height and spread. Depending on the variety, plants can grow up to 8 feet tall and spread more than 3 feet. Is queen of the prairie invasive? As a prairie native, queen of the prairie is not invasive. It can, however, self-seed aggressively in the right conditions so if you want to contain its spread, deadhead the flowers before they go to seed. How long does queen of the prairie bloom? The large panicles of fragrant flowers bloom for about 3 weeks in summer. Letting the flower heads fade and dry on the plant continues the show through fall. Does queen of the prairie make a good cut flower? Yes, the feathery plumes and sturdy stems make a gorgeous cut flower that last for weeks in a vase. Cut the flowers that have just opened and strip any leaves from the stems that will sit in water. Cutting the flowers for bouquets will also prevent them from going to seed and keep spreading in check. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit