Best time to see: mid Jun to Aug

Key facts

Tall plant with fragrant, creamy-white flowers in dense clusters, at its peak in July

Once used to flavour mead, which may have given it its name

Widespread in damp places such as marshes, wet meadows and damp woods

Extras

Tall hairless plant with leafy stems topped with clusters of 2–5 mm, fragrant, creamy flowers with 5 or 6 petals

Long-stalked leaves each holding 2–5 pairs of toothed leaflets, with smaller leaves in between