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Best thalictrums to grow
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Saturday, 18 January 2020 at 2:43 pm
We recommend eight varieties of elegant perennial, thalictrum, to grow.
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Thalictrums, or meadow rues, are prized for their airy growth habit, glaucous foliage and delicate flowers.
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They range in size from small alpine species to towering border perennials over 2m tall, but in general they can be grown in sun or shade, as long as the soil is moist. This isn't always the case, so do check the growing requirements when buying.
Given the floaty nature of the flowers, thalictrums are well-suited to growing in herbaceous borders, bringing a relaxed, informal mood to your planting scheme.
Related content:
- Six plants for dappled shade
- Best plants for summer shade
- How to grow thalictrums
We pick some of our favourite thalictrums to grow, below.
Thalictrum flavum
Fluffy yellow meadow rue, Thalictrum flavum
Commonly known as yellow meadow rue, Thalictrum flavum is an upright perennial with fluffy yellow flowerheads. It looks fabulous planted towards the back of a herbaceous border, alongside purple-flowering plants like delphiniums and echinops. The subspecies glaucum has attractive, glaucous foliage.
Height x spread: 150cm x 50cm.
Thalictrum tuberiferum
Pink-white Thalictrum tuberiferum
Thalictrum tuberiferum is a delicate-looking thalictrum, native to Russia, Korea and Japan. It's ideal for growing in full or partial shade, where the bright, clustered flowers will brighten things up.
H x S: 70cm x 30cm.
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
Purple-pink French meadow rue, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
French meadow rue, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, gets its botanical name from its almost scalloped foliage, which resembles that of aquilegias. This species has some of the showiest flowers compared with other thalictrums, and a number of varieties exist, including 'Thundercloud' (pictured) and the white-flowered Thalictrum aquilegiifolium var. album.
H x S: 140cm x 50cm.
Thalictrum delavayi
Pink flowers of Thalictrum delavayi
This species of thalictrum produces fantastic clouds of flowers in the summer months, similar to those of gypsophila but on taller stems. Thalictrum delavayi is well-suited to herbaceous borders in partial shade.
H x S: 100cm x 50cm.
Thalictrum kiusianum
Starry, pink dwarf meadow rue, Thalictrum kiusianum
Known as dwarf meadow rue, Thalictrum kiusianum is a low-growing species reaching around 15cm in height. It's a fabulous choice for ground cover in partial shade, where it will slowly spread and provide interest in the form of summer blooms and dainty, fern-like foliage.
H x S: 15cm x 30cm.
Thalictrum minus
Feathery Thalictrum minus
Thalictrum minus is a perennial, clump-forming species with a wide native range including Europe, West Africa and Southeast Asia. It's well suited to being grown in a moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade and looks great in the middle of a border. Best grow in a larger garden so it has room to spread.
H x S: 60cm x 50cm.
Thalictrum filamentosum
Starry, pink-white flowers of Thalictrum filamentosum
Beginning in May and ending in late summer, Thalictrum filamentosum has a long flowering period, producing beautiful flowers like tiny starbursts. This species is happy growing in moist, rich soil in dappled or partial shade.
H x S: 60cm x 50cm.
Thalictrum ichangense
Lilac, starry Thalictrum ichangense flowers
This small, perennial species first emerges in early spring, and from May to midsummer produces starry lilac flowers. Grow Thalictrum ichangense in a partially shaded site in moist, well-drained soil.
H x S: 30cm x 30cm.
What to grow with thalictrums
Pink Thalictrum delavay with astrantias and ageratina
Plenty of plants grow well with thalictrums. These include:
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- Eryngiums
- Cosmos
- Astrantias
- Ageratina
- Blechnum
- Dryopteris
- Hostas
- Alchemilla
- Hesperis
- Honesty
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