Chinese meadow rue

Chinese meadow rue: how do you recognise it?

Habit

A see-through clump with slender, branched flower stems up to 1.5 m; about 60 cm wide.

Leaves

Two to three times divided, with small, lobed leaflets; blue-green and graceful, like those of columbine.

Flowers

Small, nodding flowers without petals: four or five lilac sepals around a tuft of creamy-yellow stamens, in large, loose panicles.

Flowering

From July to September; the flowers open in succession, so the panicle stays attractive for a long time.

Roots

Fleshy, rather brittle roots; the plant dislikes being moved or divided.

Flowering: July–September · Plants: March–May and September · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• An airy cloud of small lilac flowers from July to September, with a long flowering season.
• Its see-through habit means it can stand at the front of a border without hiding the plants behind.
• Graceful, finely divided blue-green foliage from late spring onwards.
• Bees visit the flowers for their pollen.
• An elegant partner for roses, ornamental grasses and bold-leaved perennials.
• Hardy throughout Belgium.

Chinese meadow rue: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; ideally a spot with morning sun and shade during the hottest hours.
• Humus-rich loam or clay, acid to neutral.
• Normally moist and well drained: no drying out in summer, no standing water in winter.
• Sheltered from strong wind, as the tall, thin stems bend or snap easily.
• Plant 50–60 cm apart.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Loam or clay

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

1.5 m tall, 0.6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Roses: The lilac cloud fills the gaps between shrub roses and softens their solid shape.
• Purple moor grass: An ornamental grass that forms a light, moving picture with the meadow rue.
• Coneflower: Sturdy, flat flowers as a contrast with the airy panicles.
• Lady’s mantle: A soft green, low foreground at the foot of the tall stems.
• Burnet: Drooping spikes beside the lilac cloud, for an airy prairie-style border.

Chinese meadow rue: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September.

1. Plant from March to May or in September, so the plant can root before winter.
2. Work compost or leaf mould into the soil.
3. Dig a generous hole and set the plant at the same depth as it was in its pot.
4. Leave 50–60 cm between plants and put in a few canes straight away.
5. Water in thoroughly and mulch with leaf mould or compost.
6. Mark the spot: the plant is late to emerge in spring.

Care

Watering

Water in dry spells; drying out causes brown leaf edges and a shorter flowering season.

Support

In May, put a few bamboo canes or thin twigs beside the plant and tie the stems in loosely as they grow.

Feeding

A layer of compost in spring; rich fertiliser is not needed.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould keeps the roots cool and moist.

Leave alone

Ideally leave the plant in the same spot for years: it resents division and moving.

Tip: Put in a few canes or thin twigs beside the young plant as early as May: the stems grow through them unseen and stay upright until the end of flowering.

Chinese meadow rue: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: Meadow rue needs hardly any pruning. Cut the dead stems down in February–March; in summer, at most remove faded panicles.

How:

• In late winter, cut the old stems back to just above the ground, taking care of the young shoots already below the surface.
• Cut off faded panicles if you do not want seedlings.
• Leave the foliage until it dies back naturally: it feeds the roots for next year.

Caution: Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin and do not leave prunings lying around: all parts are poisonous if eaten.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow fresh seed in autumn in a pot left outside over winter; germination follows in spring. ‘Hewitt’s Double’ sets no seed.

Division

In early spring, as the shoots appear, carefully cut away a piece with buds and roots. The plant is slow to recover.

Chinese meadow rue: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: in Belgium it survives winter without protection.
• It dies back above ground and only reappears late in spring; mark the spot so you do not dig into it.
• In heavy, wet soil the rootstock may rot in winter: make sure the soil drains well.
• In a pot: stand it in a sheltered spot and wrap the pot in severe frost.

Diseases and pests

• Flopping stems: The thin stems snap after rain or wind. Give support in good time and choose a sheltered spot.
• Slugs: They eat the young shoots in spring, sometimes until the plant disappears entirely. Pick them off in the evening and keep an eye on the young shoots.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry weather. Water and leave space between plants.
• Brown leaf edges: Caused by drying out or too much strong midday sun. Water, mulch or choose a spot with midday shade.

Through the year

• March: Cut down old stems. Add compost. Plant.
• April: Young shoots appear: watch for slugs. Plant.
• May: Put in supports. Plant. Mulch.
• June: Tie in the stems. Water in dry spells.
• July: Flowering begins. Water in dry spells.
• August: Full flower. Keep tying in the stems.
• September: Last flowers. Plant.
• October: Collect ripe seed and sow in a pot.
• November: Top growth dies back. Mark the spot.

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.

Did you know?

• The flowers have no true petals: what you see are coloured sepals and a tuft of stamens.
• In the 19th century Jean Marie Delavay collected thousands of plants in the Chinese province of Yunnan and sent them to Paris; many species bear his name.
• Belgium has a native relative, common meadow rue (Thalictrum flavum), with yellow flower heads along ditches and in wet hay meadows.