Waxy-leaf Meadow Rue Thalictrum amphibolum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Thalictrum revolutum var. glandulosior
- Phonetic Spelling
- tha-LIK-trum am-fee-BO-lum
- Description
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Waxy Meadow Rue is a perennial wildflower in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family that grows 3 - 7' tall in the eastern US and Canada. It has a thick central stem that is green or slightly reddish purple with short hairs. The stem branches occasionally. It can be found in streambanks, edges of pond or forests, thickets, meadows, prairies, and roadsides.
Plant it in moist to slightly dry conditions, and partial to full sun. This plant usually grows in fairly typical garden soil, such as a rich loam or clay loam. The height of a plant can vary considerably on fertility of the soil, moisture conditions, and maturity. Very rapid growth in the spring and only blooms for about 3 weeks. This species of Meadow Rue appears to tolerate full sun and drought conditions better than most. However, it will still die back in the heat of the summer but will grow new basal leaves in the fall.
You won't find many places to purchase this plant, possibly because of the foul smelling leaves when places do sell the Purple Meadow-rue as it is so similar and has no smell. However, it is easily grown from seed. Also, it is rhizomatous, where you can divide the plant when it is dormant in the spring.
Plant in a meadow or slope of a bank, near a pond or in a woodland or other naturalized area.
Quick ID:
- Each leaflet has glandular hairs on the underside which gives it a waxy appearance that will glisten when they are exposed to sunlight.
- The margin of each leaflet turns downward slightly.
- The leaves have a foul smell when crushed (skunk-like).
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thalictrum
- Species:
- amphibolum
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States and Canada
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The female flowers are replaced by small achenes that are ribbed and pointed at both ends, becoming brittle with age and often shed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Long-stalked flowers growing in large branching clusters with slender stamens. The male flower is 1/3" long, has 4-5 light green sepals that spread outward, white stamens with yellow, brown or purplish anthers. The male flowers usually droop downward from slender pedicels. The female flowers are shaped like small green burs and have numerous short pistils. No petals.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Each leaflet is about ¾–2" long and half as much across. It is rounded at the base, and either without lobes or with 2-3 lobes toward the outer edge, containing a large middle lobe and 2 smaller side lobes. The lobes are bluntly pointed. The underside of the leaflet has glandular hairs which gives it a waxy appearance that will glisten when they are exposed to sunlight. The margin of each leaflet turns downward slightly. When crushed, leaves produce a foul smell, skunk-like.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- A thick central stem that is green or slightly reddish purple with short hairs. The stem branches occasionally.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
