Dropwort Plant Care
Filipendula vulgaris Hill
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Filipendula vulgaris, commonly known as dropwort or fern-leaf dropwort, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Rosaceae, closely related to meadowsweet. It is found in Europe, western Siberia, Asia Minor, the Caucusus and North Africa.
Every 3–5 days
Part shade to full sun
50–75°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Dropwort?
Water Dropwort every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it part shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Dropwort Native To?
- Albania
- Algeria
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Libya
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
What Is the Dropwort?
Dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris) belongs to the Rosaceae family within the Filipendula genus. Dropwort is native to Europe, western Siberia, Asia Minor, the Caucusus and North Africa. Dropwort is also known as Meadow-sweet, Bridewort.
Dropwort displays a clump-forming perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Dropwort produces fluffy, feathery plumes in shades of white, pink, or red.
Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Dropwort?
Filipendula vulgaris requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Dropwort Need?
Dropwort thrives in part shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Part shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Dropwort Prefer?
Filipendula vulgaris grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Dropwort prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Dropwort?
Moist, fertile, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Dropwort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Dropwort?
Feed Dropwort every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Dropwort?
Divide clumps every 3-4 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Dropwort?
Dropwort can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to queen of the prairie plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Dropwort Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Dropwort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Dropwort?
Dropwort is susceptible to aphids, sawfly larvae. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Dropwort Need?
Dropwort grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Dropwort is native to Europe, western Siberia, Asia Minor, the Caucusus and North Africa. In cooler regions, grow Dropwort as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Dropwort is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Filipendula genus — compare its care with other Filipendula species on PlantoScan.
Filipendula is part of the Rosaceae plant family — browse all Rosaceae genera and species.
Dropwort thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Filipendula vulgaris Hill, family Rosaceae (first published in Brit. Herb. : 24 (1756)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Dropwort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Dropwort Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species