Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Perennial · Ranunculaceae
Greater meadow-rue
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
In other languages: Akeleiruit (Nederlands) · Pigamon à feuilles d’ancolie (Français)
Greater meadow-rue grows wild in mountain meadows and open woodland across much of Europe and northern Asia. It is an elegant perennial with blue-green, finely divided leaves that look very much like those of a columbine. From May to July, fluffy clouds of lilac to purplish-pink flowers appear on stems about 1 m tall. Gardeners love its airy, see-through look: it is tall but takes up little room and lets you see the plants behind it. Well-known forms include white-flowered ‘Album’, deep purple ‘Thundercloud’ and ‘Black Stockings’, with almost black stems.
Caution: All parts are toxic if eaten, as with many members of the buttercup family. Keep children and pets away and wash your hands after handling the plant.
Light
Sun or partial shade
preferably some sun
Moisture
Normal to wet
must not dry out
Legal basis
Loam or clay
any pH
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -30 °C
Size
1 m
tall, 0.45 m wide
Flowering
May–July
| Pruning months | March and November |
|---|---|
| Height | 1 m |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Flowering | May–July |
Identify
Greater meadow-rue: how do you recognise it?
- Habit
- Upright clump 80–100 cm tall and about 45 cm wide, with sturdy stems that are often flushed purple.
- Leaves
- Two or three times divided, with rounded, lobed leaflets; blue-green, as in columbine.
- Flower
- Fluffy, flat clusters of small flowers without true petals; the colour comes from the many stamens.
- Colour
- Lilac to purplish pink; also in white and deep purple.
- Fruit
- Hanging clusters of small winged fruits that stay decorative after flowering.
Flowering: May–July · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March and November
In your garden
Why grow it?
- Airy lilac clouds from May to July, bridging the gap between spring and summer flowers.
- The blue-green, columbine-like foliage looks good from April into autumn.
- Tall but narrow and see-through: ideal in the middle of the border, hiding nothing.
- Bees and hoverflies come for the pollen of its many stamens.
- The hanging seed heads stay attractive after flowering.
Greater meadow-rue: where does it grow best?
- Sun to partial shade; in full sun only if the soil does not dry out.
- Loam or clay rich in humus, acid to chalky.
- Normal to moist soil that does not dry out in summer.
- Preferably sheltered from strong wind. Plant 40–50 cm apart, four to five plants per m².
- Light
- Sun and partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam or clay
- Acidity
- Not fussy
- Moisture
- Normal or wet
- Size
- 1 m tall, 0.45 m wide
- Hardiness
- Hardy (to -30 °C)
Goes well with
- Columbine: Flowers at the same time in May, with similar foliage: a playful pairing.
- Masterwort: Papery, star-like flowers in pink or white, for the same partial shade.
- Cranesbill: A low, flowering base beneath the tall flower heads.
- Lady’s mantle: Soft lime-green flower heads that set off the lilac.
- Ferns: Fine green foliage on the shady side of the border.
Maintenance
Greater meadow-rue: when and how to plant it?
Plant in March–May and September–October.
- Plant from March to May or in September–October, when the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in compost or well-rotted manure.
- Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot, with the crown at soil level, and firm in.
- Water in thoroughly and keep the soil moist for the first few weeks.
- Spread a layer of leaf mould around the base to keep the soil cool and moist.
Care
- Water
- Water during prolonged dry spells, especially in the first year. Plants that dry out get brown leaf edges.
- Feeding
- A layer of compost in spring is enough.
- Mulching
- A layer of leaf mould in April keeps the roots cool and moist.
- Support
- The stems are sturdy, but in a windy spot a few canes or a plant ring help.
- Deadheading
- Leave the flowers for the seed heads. If you do not want seedlings, cut them off after flowering.
- Leave alone
- It dislikes being moved or divided: simply leave a well-established plant in place for years.
Tip: Leave the seed heads for decoration and move the seedlings that come up quietly in moist soil: free new plants.
Greater meadow-rue: when to prune it?
Pruning months: March and November.
When: Cut the dead stems down in November, or leave them with their seed heads until March.
How:
- Cut all stems back to just above the ground.
- If you wait until March, cut before the new shoots appear, as they are brittle.
- For fewer seedlings, cut off the faded flower heads in July, before the seed ripens.
- Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
Caution: The plant is toxic: wash your hands after pruning and do not leave clippings where children or pets can reach them.
Propagation
- Seedlings
- In April, carefully lift the young seedlings around the plant with a little root ball and replant them. They flower after two to three years.
- Seed
- Sow fresh seed in autumn in a pot of seed compost and leave it outside: it needs a cold spell. It germinates in spring.
- Division
- In March–April, carefully divide an older clump. It is slow to re-establish, so only do this when needed.
Greater meadow-rue: how does it get through the winter?
Hardy to −30 °C.
- Fully hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
- It dies back above ground in autumn and regrows in April.
- In a large pot: stand it somewhere sheltered and do not let the compost dry out or become waterlogged.
Diseases and pests
- Slugs: They eat the young shoots in spring. Pick them off in the evening, especially on young plants.
- Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves, mainly in dry weather. Water, leave space around the plant and remove affected leaves.
- Brown, scorched leaves: Too dry or too much sun. Water, mulch or move it to partial shade.
- Flopping stems: Too much wind or too much shade. Give support or choose a more sheltered, lighter spot.
- Too many seedlings: In moist soil it self-seeds freely. Weed out the surplus or cut the flower heads after flowering.
Through the year
- March: Cut down old stems. Add compost.
- April: Plant. Move seedlings. Watch out for slugs.
- May: Flowering begins. Add support if needed.
- June: Full bloom. Water in dry spells.
- July: Last flowers. Leave or remove the seed heads.
- August: Seed heads add interest. Water in dry spells.
- September: Plant.
- October: Plant. Leave the seed heads standing.
- November: Cut down dead stems.
Use
Edible and useful
Not edible. All parts of meadow rue (Thalictrum) are poisonous if swallowed: they contain alkaloids that cause vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea, as do many plants in the buttercup family. Despite the name it is not a kitchen herb and not common rue, and its fine leaves look like those of columbine or a fern: do not pick them for tea, salad or as a herb. Grazing animals such as horses, cows, sheep and goats are at risk if they eat it; common meadow rue grows wild in wet meadows. Do not plant meadow rue in or beside a field, and never throw trimmings into a field or pen. Keep young children, cats and dogs away, and wear gloves when cutting back if you have sensitive skin. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.
Good for wildlife
- Bees
- Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.
You and this species
Did you know?
- The flowers have no true petals: the sepals drop early, and the fluffy colour comes from the many coloured stamens.
- The name aquilegiifolium means ‘with columbine leaves’. Meadow-rue refers to the leaves’ likeness to those of common rue, although the plants are not related.
- Meadow-rue belongs to the buttercup family, like columbine, buttercup and clematis.