Native plants for a Cape Cod garden

This showy plant is native to the Midwest, the mid-Atlantic states, New England and eastern Canada, but it is listed as threatened in several of those areas. Queen of the prairie (or meadowsweet) likes moist prairies and meadows, particularly along streams and rivers. It is normally considered an indicator species of high quality habitats, but since I have put the plant in a reclaimed wasteland area of my garden I cannot use that claim. The plant can grow fairly tall – 3 to 5 feet is not unusual and older specimen can reach up to 8 feet tall. I have plants ranging from 3 to 7 feet currently, and they have not started flowering in earnest yet. Meadowsweet likes moisture, but it will do fine in regular soil as long as it does not get exposed to the full heat of the sun. Once in full bloom, the feathery clusters of pink flowers have the appearance of pink clouds or the spin sugar candy I remember from county fairs long ago. The jagged leaves are spectacular in their own right and over time the plant will form large clumps of brilliant green leaves. I have Filipendula rubra as showcase plants framed by Echinacea purpurea with a mixed backdrop of joe pye weed and goldenrod.

Despite its abundance of flowers, and its name, meadowsweet provides only pollen to insects, not nectar. Bees are the most important pollinators, but wasps, butterflies and hummingbirds looking for some sweetness are out of luck.