Tell me about your meadow rue...

[lesa]

I saw some stunning examples of this plant in Vermont, years ago and I am always on a search for some. These plants were at least 5 feet tall- very dramatic. Anyone growing this type- and do you know the official name? Spring is in the air....

 

[patandchickens]

The genus is Thalictrum, there are various species.

Thalictrum rochebrunianum (or something like that, I am too lazy to look it up) is the tallest one commonly seen in garden centers; the flowers are sort of purplish. I have one that is in too much shade to flower well and too much wind to stay upright through flowering anyhow

Thalictrum aquilegifolium is also common in the trade; it is shorter, like 2-3' for a mature plant, with denser flowerheads of various shades of off-white, lavender, pinkish or muddy pale purple. There are enough ugly strains/seedlings out there I'd recommend buying a plant *in flower* if you are picky what it looks like. It self-seeds for me.

There are others, including a couple of small native species with insignificant flowers (I have one as a scattered volunteer in my garden), but those are the two I've mainly grown.

They like evenly moist, reasonably good soil, and a bit of shade (possibly more shade further south, I dunno) and the tall ones need to be somewhere they won't blow over but they are basically easy plants to grow.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat