A native perennial, Filipendula ulmaria is very common throughout the British Isles in damp habitats such as swamps and wet meadows (Butcher, 1961), marshes, by rivers (Rose, 1981) and can sometimes become locally dominant in fens and wet woods (Clapham, et al. 1987). It grows at all altitudes to over 1,000m. In contrast, F. vulgaris is found in dry grassy habitats, with the same altitudinal range. It is common as far north as north Yorkshire but less so beyond, being very local in Scotland although reaching the north coast.