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.
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
- Thalictrum 'Elin'meadow rue 'Elin'

- Thalictrum aquilegiifolium 'Atropurpureum'

- Thalictrum aquilegiifolium var. intermedium
- Thalictrum chelidonii

- Thalictrum elegans

- Thalictrum flavumcommon meadow rue

- Thalictrum flavum subsp. flavum

- Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum 'Silver Sparkler' (v)