Thalictrum Species, China Meadow Rue

This charming little plant has proven to be extremely hardy in South central Alaska, and has survived several "wipe-out" winters since it...Read More was first planted in 1998. A single 2 inch pot with four stems has grown to a patch about two square feet in size. The leaves look more like an Epimedium than a Thalictrum, with charming small pink fluffy flowers that dance above the leaves in mid-summer. The plant makes small potato-like tubers.

I will agree that this species is unusually rare in the plant trade - just look at how many people have it just 2 so far- I got it in a ...Read Moreplant sale - very nice groundcover - will spread over a good area - nice for shade rock gardens and their little balls of fuzz give it a interesting look. Too bad not more people have heard of it - it's a tough little plant!

This is an excellent, small Meadow Rue, suitable for rock gardens and ground cover. The foliage is a bit unusual for the genus in that t...Read Morehe leaves are light, airy and springy, very much like an Epimedium. The shape of each leaf is slightly hexagonal, vaguely like a nasturtium, and rather large for the diminutive size of the plant. The flowers are little pale pink/white starbursts similar to T. aquilegiafolium, but less dense. They start blooming quite early in Spring and continue well into Autumn. However, I have never seen a seed or a seedling, which is also unusual. Fortunately, (or unfortunately?) they spread rather quickly by rhizomes. Given reasonable attention, they are very rugged and easily divided. They could be invasive, but I have yet to change my overwhelmingly positive opinion after ten years. I merely grab a sharp knife and cut around the plant to remove unwanted rhizomes, which can be planted elsewhere. The only fault I can see is that they are rather difficult to find, and expensive. I paid $10.00 for a tiny 2" pot at Rice Creek Gardens in Minnesota.