Filipendula 'Kahome' AGM

Dwarf Meadowsweet Rosaceae

A little Filipendula with a surprisingly large personality. ‘Kahome’ forms a neat, compact clump of bright green, finely divided foliage, above which rise wonderfully fluffy heads of rosy-pink flowers. The effect is somewhere between a miniature meadowsweet and a particularly well-behaved pink cloud. The flowers are lightly scented and, as the RHS trial discovered, can continue from mid-July right through to the first frosts, making this one of the longest-flowering Filipendulas. 

Its exact parentage and breeder are not reliably documented, so we would avoid the rather tempting nursery habit of inventing a Japanese breeder. The plant is frequently sold under the name Filipendula palmata ‘Kahome’, but the RHS currently treats it simply as Filipendula ‘Kahome’, with the cultivar name accepted without a species epithet. 

Grow in full sun or light shade in fertile, humus-rich soil that remains reliably moist. It is particularly good at the front of a border, beside a pond or stream, or massed through a damp meadow. Its compact habit means no staking is required — a rare quality in a plant related to some considerably more ambitious Filipendulas.

Height: 30–40cm
Spread: 40–50cm
Flowering: July–October
Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)
Best conditions: Full sun to partial shade; fertile, moisture-retentive soil; never allow to dry out.