How to Grow Thalictrum
Thalictrum (thal-ik-trum)
From the Greek thaliktron, a name used to describe a plant with divided leaves, possibly of the same family (Ranuncalaceae). Meadow rue. A genus of 150 species of hardy perennials, herbaceous plants, mainly from north temperate regions but also represented in tropical South America, tropical Africa and South Africa. Those cultivated have elegant, fern-like foliage and dainty flowers. They are most effective when planted in bold groups.
Species cultivated T. aquilegiifolium, 3-4 feet, flowers pale purple in fluffy panicles, May to July, Europe, northern Asia. T. chelidonii, 2-3 feet, flowers large, mauve, July to August, Himalaya. T. diffusiflorum, 2-3 feet, finely cut, grey-green foliage, sprays of clear lilac flowers, July and August, Tibet; a difficult plant to establish. T. dipterocarpum, 3-5 feet, leaves dainty, blue-green, smooth, flowers deep lavender with prominent yellow anthers borne on slender stems, July and August, western China; vars. album, a graceful white form; ‘Hewitt’s Double’, bright violet-mauve, fully double flowers, freely produced. T. flavum, 2-3 feet, grey-green, glossy, finely cut foliage, soft yellow, feathery heads of flowers, July and August, Europe including Britain. T. glaucum (syn. T. speciosissimum), 5 feet, foliage glaucous, flowers yellow, summer, southern Europe, North Africa. T. kuisianutn, 4 inches, foliage fern-like, flowers rosy-purple, spring, Japan, rock garden or alpine house. T. minus (syn. T. adiantifolium), feet, grown purely for its decorative, maiden hair fern-like foliage, borne on wiry stems which make it admirable for use with floral decorations, inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers in loose panicles, Europe (including Britain). T. rocquebrunianum, 4 feet, stems and leaf stalks purplish, flowers lavender-blue in large heads, summer.
Cultivation Thalictrums will grow in almost any soil, preferably of reasonable depth, but including those that contain much chalk, provided they do not bake dry. Plant them in full sun or dappled shade. Propagation is by seed or by division in the spring.
