Plant Profile

Dropwort

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026
Filipendula vulgaris
Family: Rosaceae  ·  Parts used: Flower, Aerial parts, Root, Leaf  ·  Also known as: fern-leaf dropwort, common dropwort

Common names in 17 European languages →

The complete database record: 5 documented constituents, 11 pharmacological actions, 14 traditional / indicated uses, with 18 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Erect perennial herb of the rose family, 20-80 cm tall, growing from a short rootstock whose fibrous roots bear characteristic small tuber-like swellings (the 'drop-wort' beads). The leaves are mostly in a basal rosette and are distinctive: long, fern-like and interruptedly pinnate, with many (up to 20+ pairs) small, deeply toothed leaflets. Small creamy-white flowers, often pink-tinged in bud and 6-petalled, are borne in an irregular terminal cyme. Unlike its sibling meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) of wet ground, dropwort grows in dry calcareous grassland.[1, 6]

Height: 20-80 cm
Habit: Erect perennial herb from a short rootstock bearing small root tubers
Leaves: Mostly a basal rosette; long, fern-like, interruptedly pinnate with many (to 20+ pairs) small, deeply toothed leaflets
Flowers: Creamy-white, often pink-tinged in bud, 6-petalled, in an irregular terminal cyme; faintly scented
Stem: Erect, slender, little-branched and nearly leafless above the basal rosette
Root: Fibrous roots bearing characteristic small tuber-like swellings ('dropwort' beads)
Fruit: A cluster of small, straight, hairy achenes
Flowering Period: May-August

Habitat & Distribution

Dry, unimproved calcareous (chalk and limestone) grassland, meadows, roadside banks and open scrub. Native across most of Europe, western Asia and North Africa. Unlike meadowsweet (F. ulmaria), which grows in wet meadows and beside water, dropwort is a plant of dry ground.[1]

Harvesting

The flowering tops and aerial parts are gathered in summer while in flower; the fern-like leaves and the small root tubers are also used. The material is dried for infusions and decoctions.[2]

Parts: Flower, Aerial parts, Root, Leaf
Season: Aerial parts and flowers in summer (May-August); roots and tubers in autumn

Key Constituents

Flavonol glycosides[1, 4]

Flavonol glycosides including spiraeoside (quercetin 4'-O-glucoside), hyperoside, rutin and kaempferol derivatives - the signature Filipendula flavonoids.

FlavonoidsQuercetinKaempferolRutinGlycosides
Hydrolysable tannins[1, 7]

Ellagitannins and gallotannins (astringent constituents), giving the traditional astringent/antidiarrhoeal action.

TanninsGallic acidEllagic acidPhenolic compounds
Phenolic acids[1, 8]

Gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic and ferulic acids; antioxidant.

Phenolic acidsGallic acidCaffeic acidChlorogenic acidFerulic acid
Condensed tannins / proanthocyanidins[6]

Catechin-based condensed tannins.

ProanthocyanidinsCatechinsTannins
Salicylate essential oil[3, 10]

Flower volatile oil dominated by salicylaldehyde, with methyl salicylate - the salicylate character shared with meadowsweet and willow, underlying the anti-inflammatory/analgesic and antimicrobial effects.

Essential (volatile) oilPhenolic compounds

Pharmacological Actions

Antioxidant[1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 16]
Anti-inflammatory[1, 2, 3]
Analgesic (pain relief)[3]

Antihyperalgesic in a rat inflammatory-pain model (salicylate-mediated).

Anti-rheumatic / anti-arthritic[2, 3]

Traditional use for rheumatic/arthritic pain, consistent with salicylate content and analgesic/anti-inflammatory activity.

Gastroprotective[2]
Antimicrobial[6, 9, 10]
Hepatoprotective (liver support)[5]

Protective against carbon-tetrachloride liver injury in rats.

Astringent[1, 7]

Hydrolysable-tannin astringency underlying traditional antidiarrhoeal and wound/gargle use.

Neuroprotective / cognition support[8, 12, 13, 14]

Nootropic and brain-bioenergetic effects in animal models (Russian traditional nervous-system use).

Anxiolytic / calming[15]
Anticancer (preclinical)[11]

Dropwort extract restrained the YAP/TAZ/TEAD oncogenic axis in mesothelioma (preclinical).

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Cancer (anticancer research)[11]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2
Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

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Inflammation (general)[1, 2]Preliminary · 2/10
Evidence: 2
Label: Inflammation (general)

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Pain (general)[3]Preliminary · 2/10

Antihyperalgesic activity.

Evidence: 2
Label: Pain (general)

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Arthritis / joint pain[3]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anti-rheumatic / analgesic action (salicylates)

Evidence: 2
Label: Arthritis / joint pain

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Diarrhoea[2, 7]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from astringent (tannin) action and traditional use

Evidence: 2
Label: Diarrhoea

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Indigestion[2]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from gastroprotective action

Evidence: 2
Label: Indigestion

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Liver support[5]Preliminary · 2/10

Hepatoprotective in animal models.

Evidence: 2
Label: Liver support

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Wounds[6, 10]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from astringent/antimicrobial action and traditional wound-wash use

Evidence: 2
Label: Wounds

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Infection (general)[9, 10]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2
Label: Infection (general)

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Memory[12, 13]Preliminary · 2/10

Nootropic (cognition-enhancing) activity in animals.

Evidence: 2
Label: Memory

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Cognitive function[12, 14]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from nootropic/neuroprotective action

Evidence: 2
Label: Cognitive function

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Anxiety[15]Preliminary · 2/10

Anxiolytic in experimental models.

Evidence: 2
Label: Anxiety

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Urinary support[2]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from traditional kidney/bladder 'gravel' use

Evidence: 2
Label: Urinary support

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Kidney support[2]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from traditional urinary/gravel use

Evidence: 2
Label: Kidney support

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Traditional Use & History

Dropwort shares much of the European folk-medicine history of its sibling meadowsweet. The salicylate- and tannin-rich herb has been used as an astringent and anti-inflammatory remedy for diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal complaints, for rheumatic and arthritic pain, for kidney and bladder 'gravel' and urinary complaints, and as a wound and mouth wash. In Serbian and Balkan ethnomedicine the flowers and roots are used; Russian traditional medicine uses dropwort extracts as a nootropic and calming remedy for the nervous system.[2, 12, 15]

Preparations

Infusion[2]

Dried flowering tops or leaves infused as an astringent, anti-inflammatory tea for digestive and rheumatic complaints.

Decoction[2]

The root and root-tubers decocted; used traditionally for diarrhoea and urinary 'gravel'.

Aromatic distillate / essential oil[10]

The flowers yield an aromatic oil dominated by salicylaldehyde with antimicrobial activity (as in meadowsweet).

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note[3, 10]Caution

Dropwort contains salicylate compounds (salicylaldehyde, methyl salicylate), as in meadowsweet and willow. Avoid in salicylate or aspirin sensitivity, and use caution alongside anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines. As with other salicylate-containing plants, avoid in children with viral illness (theoretical Reye's syndrome risk).

Safety noteCaution

Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established; avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy and lactation.

Safety note[7, 16]Info

Generally well tolerated in traditional amounts; genotoxicity testing of dropwort extracts found them non-genotoxic and antigenotoxic (DNA-protective) at the doses studied.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Anticoagulants Antiplatelets[10]Caution
Mechanism: Dropwort contains salicylates (as in meadowsweet and willow); combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs it may theoretically add to bleeding risk.
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10
Nsaids[3, 10]Caution
Mechanism: The salicylate constituents are NSAID-like; taken with NSAIDs they could add to gastrointestinal and bleeding effects.
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10
Chemotherapy Agents[11]Insufficient
Mechanism: Dropwort shows anticancer activity in preclinical models; any interaction with chemotherapy is theoretical and unstudied.
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10

Herb-Herb Pairings

Meadowsweet[2, 3]

Sibling species: both are salicylate- and tannin-rich Rosaceae with overlapping anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent and gastroprotective uses (dropwort of dry grassland, meadowsweet of wet meadows); studied together in the same trials.

Type: synergy
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10
Willow Bark[10]

Both are salicylate-containing anti-inflammatory and analgesic herbs (the classic plant-aspirin group), traditionally combined for rheumatic pain and fever.

Type: synergy
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10
Agrimony[16]

Rosaceae astringents rich in hydrolysable tannins, traditionally used for diarrhoea and as gargles; studied together for antioxidant and genotoxicity profile.

Type: synergy
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10

Dangerous Lookalikes

Oenanthe Crocata[18]Fatal
Confused Part: Name confusion: 'dropwort' (this plant) vs 'hemlock water-dropwort' (Oenanthe crocata).
Confusion Context: The share of the name 'dropwort' is a hazard: hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) is one of the deadliest plants in Europe (oenanthotoxin, violent convulsions). The two plants look nothing alike, but a forager going by common name alone could confuse them. This entry exists to make the difference unmistakable.
Distinguishing Features: Family and form: true dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris, Rosaceae) is a slender plant with a basal rosette of fern-like pinnate leaves and creamy 6-petalled flowers in a loose cyme; hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata, Apiaceae/carrot family) is a stout hollow-stemmed plant with celery-like leaves and flat white UMBELS., Habitat: Filipendula vulgaris grows in DRY calcareous grassland; Oenanthe crocata grows in WET ground - ditches, streamsides, marshes., Root: dropwort has fibrous roots with small bead-like tubers; hemlock water-dropwort has a cluster of large pale fleshy finger-like tubers ('dead man's fingers').
Key Test: If it has flat white umbels, celery-like leaves, a hollow stem and grows in wet ground with fleshy finger-like root tubers, it is hemlock water-dropwort (deadly) - NOT dropwort. True dropwort has fern-like basal leaves, creamy 6-petalled flowers and grows in dry grassland.
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-10

Botanical Synonyms

Filipendula hexapetala, Spiraea filipendula

Harvest Readiness

[17]

Part: flower
Signals: Gather the flower clusters in summer while in flower.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3257); the flowers are gathered while in flower (in flower May-August). Single lineage -> provisional.

[17]

Part: aerial-parts
Signals: Gather the flowering aerial parts (herb) in summer while in flower.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3257); the flowering herb is gathered while in flower (May-August). Single lineage -> provisional.
Part: root
Notes: GAP (documented dead end, re-searched 2026-08-15). No source states a root-harvest stage for Filipendula vulgaris. Grieve's entry (filed under Meadowsweet, as Spiraea Filipendula) describes the tubers and quotes Culpepper on their use but gives no digging season; PFAF likewise gives none. The DB harvesting.text claims 'roots and tubers in autumn' citing REF-2726, but that source was not verified for root timing, so no autumn stage is asserted here. Next seam: a Baltic or central-European ethnobotanical survey, or the dropwort-into-cultivation literature. SAFETY CRITICAL: the small root tubers of dropwort are name-confused with the FATAL Oenanthe crocata (hemlock water dropwort) - never dig dropwort roots without certain identification; see Dangerous Lookalikes.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

  1. Katanic, J. and Pferschy-Wenzig, E. and Mihailovic, V. and Boroja, T. and Pan, S. and Nikles, S. and Kretschmer, N. and Rosic, G. and Selakovic, D. and Joksimovic, J. and Bauer, R (2018) 'Phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory effects of Filipendula vulgaris Moench extracts', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 122, pp. 151-162. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2018.10.001 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.10.001
  2. Samardzic, S. and Arsenijevic, J. and Bozic, D. and Milenkovic, M. and Tesevic, V. and Maksimovic, Z (2018) 'Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Filipendula vulgaris Moench', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 213, pp. 132-137. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.11.013 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.11.013
  3. Samardzic, S. and Tomic, M. and Pecikoza, U. and Stepanovic-Petrovic, R. and Maksimovic, Z (2016) 'Antihyperalgesic activity of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Filipendula vulgaris Moench in a rat model of inflammation', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 193, pp. 652-656. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.024 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.024
  4. Maksimovic, Z. and Petrovic, S. and Pavlovic, M. and Kovacevic, N. and Kukic, J (2007) 'Antioxidant activity of Filipendula hexapetala flowers', Fitoterapia, 78(3), pp. 265-267. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2007.01.004 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2007.01.004
  5. Cebovic, T. and Maksimovic, Z (2011) 'Hepatoprotective effect of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. (Rosaceae) in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats', Phytotherapy Research, 26(7), pp. 1088-1091. doi:10.1002/ptr.3703 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3703
  6. Katanic, J. and Mihailovic, V. and Stankovic, N. and Boroja, T. and Mladenovic, M. and Solujic, S. and Stankovic, M.S. and Vrvic, M.M (2015) 'Dropwort (Filipendula hexapetala Gilib.): potential role as antioxidant and antimicrobial agent', EXCLI Journal, 14, pp. 1-20. doi:10.17179/excli2014-479 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2014-479
  7. Matic, S. and Katanic, J. and Stanic, S. and Mladenovic, M. and Stankovic, N. and Mihailovic, V. and Boroja, T (2015) 'In vitro and in vivo assessment of the genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of the Filipendula hexapetala and Filipendula ulmaria methanol extracts', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 174, pp. 287-292. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.025 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.025
  8. Bousetla, A. and Erol, E. and Benarous, K. and Topcu, G. and Laouer, H. and Akkal, S. and Boulebd, H (2025) 'LC-HRESIMS-Guided Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. From Algeria: Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Potential', Chemistry and Biodiversity, 22(11), pp. e01270. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202501270 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202501270
  9. Fandakli, S. and Korkmaz, B. and Faiz, O. and Kilic, G. and Erik, I. and Terzioglu, S. and Yayli, N (2021) 'Chemical Variation, Antimicrobial, Nitric Oxide Scavenging Activities and Tyrosinase Inhibition of Essential Oils and Solvent Extracts from Filipendula vulgaris Moench Growing in Turkey', Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 20(3), pp. 110-120. doi:10.22037/ijpr.2021.114302.14786 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.22037/ijpr.2021.114302.14786
  10. Radulovic, N. and Misic, M. and Aleksic, J. and Dokovic, D. and Palic, R. and Stojanovic, G (2007) 'Antimicrobial synergism and antagonism of salicylaldehyde in Filipendula vulgaris essential oil', Fitoterapia, 78(7-8), pp. 565-570. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2007.03.022 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2007.03.022
  11. Pulito, C. and Korita, E. and Sacconi, A. and Valerio, M. and Casadei, L. and Lo Sardo, F. and Mori, F. and Ferraiuolo, M. and Grasso, G. and Maidecchi, A. and Lucci, J. and Sudol, M. and Muti, P. and Blandino, G. and Strano, S (2019) 'Dropwort-induced metabolic reprogramming restrains YAP/TAZ/TEAD oncogenic axis in mesothelioma', Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, 38(1), pp. 349. doi:10.1186/s13046-019-1352-3 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-019-1352-3
  12. Shilova, I.V. and Suslov, N.I (2015) 'Nootropic effect of meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) extracts', Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 158(5), pp. 659-663. doi:10.1007/s10517-015-2841-9 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-015-2841-9
  13. Shilova, I.V. and Suslov, N.I. and Amelchenko, V.P (2015) 'Nootropic Effects of Filipendula vulgaris Moench Water Extract Fractions', Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 159(3), pp. 376-379. doi:10.1007/s10517-015-2967-9 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-015-2967-9
  14. Vengerovsky, A.I. and Suslov, N.I. and Kaygorodsev, A.V (2011) 'Effect of meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) extract on bioenergetics of the brain during experimental posthypoxic encephalopathy', Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 151(4), pp. 421-424. doi:10.1007/s10517-011-1346-4 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-011-1346-4
  15. Vengerovskii, A.I. and Suslov, N.I. and Kaigorodtsev, A.V (2011) 'Correction of experimental anxiety behavior by meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) extracts', Eksperimental'naia i Klinicheskaia Farmakologiia, 74(9), pp. 3-6. Preclinical
    https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Correction%20of%20experimental%20anxiety%20behavior%20by%20meadowsweet%20%28Filipendula%20vulgaris%29%20extracts
  16. Pukalskiene, M. and Slapsyte, G. and Dedonyte, V. and Lazutka, J.R. and Mierauskiene, J. and Venskutonis, P.R (2017) 'Genotoxicity and antioxidant activity of five Agrimonia and Filipendula species plant extracts evaluated by comet and micronucleus assays in human lymphocytes and Ames Salmonella/microsome test', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 113, pp. 303-313. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2017.12.031 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2017.12.031
  17. Plants For A Future 'Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Filipendula+vulgaris Traditional / reference
    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Filipendula+vulgaris
  18. Mitchell, M.I. and Routledge, P.A (1978) 'Hemlock water dropwort poisoning - a review', Clinical Toxicology, 12(4), pp. 417-26. doi:10.3109/15563657809150012 Clinical study
    https://doi.org/10.3109/15563657809150012

This fact sheet is generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and reflects its latest synced data. It is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. How this site is built.

Selected studies & references

PreclinicalLC-HRESIMS-Guided Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. From Algeria: Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Potential source↗ (2025)
PreclinicalChemical Variation, Antimicrobial, Nitric Oxide Scavenging Activities and Tyrosinase Inhibition of Essential Oils and Solvent Extracts from Filipendula vulgaris Moench Growing in Turkey source↗ (2021)
PreclinicalDropwort-induced metabolic reprogramming restrains YAP/TAZ/TEAD oncogenic axis in mesothelioma source↗ (2019)
PreclinicalAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Filipendula vulgaris Moench source↗ (2018)
PreclinicalPhytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory effects of Filipendula vulgaris Moench extracts source↗ (2018)
PreclinicalGenotoxicity and antioxidant activity of five Agrimonia and Filipendula species plant extracts evaluated by comet and micronucleus assays in human lymphocytes and Ames Salmonella/microsome test source↗ (2017)
PreclinicalAntihyperalgesic activity of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Filipendula vulgaris Moench in a rat model of inflammation source↗ (2016)
PreclinicalDropwort (Filipendula hexapetala Gilib.): potential role as antioxidant and antimicrobial agent source↗ (2015)

All 16 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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