Thalictrum (meadow rue) — Clump forming

Overview

Thalictrum is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Thalictrum, part of the Ranunculaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Thalictrum grows best in partial shade, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden and flower borders and beds. It is native to Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Algeria, Altay, Amur, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Buryatiya, California, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colombia, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Costa Rica, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Florida, France, Free State, Føroyar, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Jawa, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., KwaZulu-Natal, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Magadan, Maine, Malawi, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Guinea, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, Nicaragua, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northern Provinces, Northwest European Russia, Northwest Territories, Norway, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Panamá, Pennsylvania, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Rwanda, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya, Yemen, Yukon, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

About

Thalictrum is an herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae that forms deciduous clumps. It bears divided, often blue-green leaves and loose panicles of small flowers made up chiefly of numerous long stamens. Flowering runs from June to August. The plant prefers a neutral loam that stays moist but drains freely and suits partial shade in a sheltered aspect.

About the genus

Thalictrum is a genus of 120–200 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, native mostly to temperate regions. Meadow-rue is a common name for plants in this genus.

Wikipedia contributors, "Thalictrum", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Thalictrum

In the garden

Thalictrum (meadow rue) is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family, native to a broad temperate range including Great Britain, parts of continental Europe, Asia and North America. Its foliage is bipinnately divided and often has a blue-green cast; individual flowers lack petals but present conspicuous stamens in open inflorescences. Place plants where they receive partial shade on an east- or north-facing aspect and are protected from exposed winds. Use a loam-based soil with a neutral pH that remains moist but well drained; avoid heavy, waterlogged positions. The species carries a UK hardiness rating of H5 (hardy), so it will survive typical winter conditions across most of the country. Thalictrum works well in cottage and informal borders, and as a tall, airy presence in mixed flower beds. Expect blooms between June and August, and note that the long stamens create a frothy look to the panicles when in full flower.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Thalictrum

Sunlight: Partial shade
Soil type: Loam
Soil pH: Neutral
Soil moisture: Moist but well-drained
Aspect: East-facing, North-facing
Exposure: Sheltered
UK hardiness: H5

Plant details

Thalictrum size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Habit: Clump forming
Foliage: Deciduous
Suggested uses: Cottage and informal garden, Flower borders and beds
Native to: Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Algeria, Altay, Amur, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Buryatiya, California, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colombia, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Costa Rica, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Florida, France, Free State, Føroyar, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Jawa, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., KwaZulu-Natal, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Magadan, Maine, Malawi, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Guinea, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, Nicaragua, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northern Provinces, Northwest European Russia, Northwest Territories, Norway, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Panamá, Pennsylvania, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Rwanda, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya, Yemen, Yukon, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Thalictrum

Propagation: Seed, Division
Pest resistance: Slugs
Disease resistance: Powdery mildews

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to plant Thalictrum?

Thalictrum prefers partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Thalictrum need?

Thalictrum grows best in loam soil. It prefers neutral soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.

Is Thalictrum hardy in the UK?

Thalictrum has an RHS hardiness rating of H5, meaning it is hardy in most of the UK, tolerating -15 to -10°C.

How do I propagate Thalictrum?

Seed, Division.

More in the Thalictrum genus

Browse all Thalictrum →