Filipendula purpurea

Flower name
Filipendula purpurea
Scientific name
Filipendula purpurea
Aliasキョウカノコ, 京鹿子
Place of originJapan
Place of floweringLow mountains, Sub-alpine
Flowering seasonMay, June

What is Filipendula purpurea

Filipendula purpurea, Kyoganoko or Kyokanoko (Filipendula purpurea) is a deciduous perennial plant in the rose family, native to Japan. It belongs to the genus Filipendula in the Rosaceae family. It is considered a cultivated hybrid between Shimotsukeso (Filipendula multijuga) and another species in Japan, and it is larger than Shimotsukeso.
The plant grows to a height of 60-80 cm, with red, slender, sturdy, and branching stems that spread horizontally. The leaves are green, palmate, with serrated edges, and arranged alternately. In May to June, the plant produces inflorescences with pink, red-purple, or white flowers. The stamens protrude from the petals.

Origin of the Name

The Japanese name "Kyoganoko" is derived from the resemblance of its flowering pattern to the "Kanoko Shibori" (a type of tie-dye pattern resembling the spots on a fawn's coat) of Kyoto. The genus name "Filipendula" comes from the Latin words "filum" (thread) and "pendulus" (hanging), referring to the appearance of the roots. The species name "purpurea" means "purple" in Latin.

Plants Similar to Kyoganoko

■Kyoganoko (Filipendula purpurea)
Perennial, genus Filipendula, height 60-80 cm, no thorns on the stem, palmately divided into 5-7 lobes (leaves similar to Shimotsukeso), fine serrated leaf margins, blooms in May-June.

■Shimotsukeso (Filipendula multijuga)
Perennial, genus Filipendula, height 30-80 cm, thorns on the stem, pinnately compound leaves with large terminal leaflets palmately divided into 5-7 deep lobes, blooms in June-August (later than Kyoganoko), 3-5 petals, up to 15 stamens, short pedicels, flat ellipsoid shape.

■Shimotsuke (Spiraea japonica)
Shrub, genus Spiraea, height 50-100 cm, bamboo-like leaves arranged alternately, compound corymbose inflorescence, blooms in May-August (earlier than Kyoganoko), 5 petals, up to 30 stamens, long pedicels, spherical follicles.

Common name: Filipendula purpurea(Kyoganoko )
Scientific name: Filipendula purpurea (Filipendula)
Other name: White-flowered variety only - Natsuyukisou
Classification: Plant Kingdom, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosales, Rosaceae, Filipendula genus, Kyoganoko species
Life form: Deciduous perennial
Origin: Japan
Height: 60-80 cm
Leaves: Basal and cauline leaves, long petioles, green turning yellow in autumn, palmately divided into 5-7 lobes, 20 cm long, serrated margins, alternate arrangement.
Inflorescence type: Compound umbel, blooms in May-June, flower color: pink, red-purple, white, 4-5 petals per flower.
Fruit type: Hairy achenes (rare)
Uses: Japanese gardens, potted plants, flower arrangements.