Purple Meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Thalictrum dasycarpum var. hypoglaucum
- Thalictrum hypoglaucum
- Phonetic Spelling
- tha-LIK-trum day-see-KAR-pum
- Description
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Purple Meadow-rue is an upright herbaceous perennial, 2 – 6 ft. high in the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) family native from Alberta and Ontario, Canada south to Arizona and Ohio. Purple Meadow-rue grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade but prefers a rich, highly organic soil and dappled sun in the afternoon. It is typically found in swamps and wet thickets, stream banks, ditches, meadows, and prairies. Environmental conditions will dictate the plant size. Plants situated in full sun will require more moisture than if grown in part shade. It is intolerant of hot and humid conditions and would do well in areas of shade in the afternoon during the hot summer months. Can be easily grown from seed.
Purple Meadow-rue features a basal grouping of lacy, fine-textured, compound, bluish-green leaves arranged opposite divided into numerous, three-lobed leaflets. Male and female flowers are usually on separate plants. For both sexes, flowers are in large open to dense branching clusters (panicles). The branches of the panicle are usually purple and glabrous. Flowers of both sexes are petal-less and about 1/3 inch across, with 4 to 6 greenish-white sepals that may drop off early. The female flowers have about 10 thread-like white pistils that resemble petals. Male flowers have about 12 dangling white to greenish stamens with pale yellow tips that turn brown with age becoming drooping and tangled. The effect of mass plantings of the male bloom are very showy.
Cut back in the fall. Divide carefully in spring every 3-4 years while dormant. Divisions may be slow to establish.
It makes a great background plant for beds or borders. Usually grown in the back of the border.
Quick ID:
- Basal grouping of lacy, fine-textured, bluish-green leaves divided into numerous, three-lobed leaflets
- Purple stems that are smooth
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious insects or disease issues. Occasionally, powdery mildew and rust may affect the plants' health. Support may be necessary for taller plants.
- 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:
- dasycarpum
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Makes a great background plant for beds, grown for its bluish-green leaves
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Alberta, Ontario south to Arizona and Ohio
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, AZ, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, ND, NE, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Honeybees and other bees are attracted to the pollen of the male flower, but do not serve as pollinators.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer Resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Male and female flowers are usually on separate plants. For both sexes, flowers are in large open to dense branching clusters (panicles). The branches of the panicle are usually purple and glabrous. Flowers of both sexes are petal-less and about 1/3 inch across, with 4 to 6 greenish-white sepals that may drop off early. The female flowers have about 10 thread-like white pistils that resemble petals. Male flowers have about 12 dangling white to greenish stamens with pale yellow tips that turn brown with age.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves have a fine downy underside. They are often divided into numerous, 2-3 lobed leaflets. The individual leaflets can be 3/4-2" in length and 1/2-1 1/2" wide. They become smaller in size as they ascend the stem. The margins of the leaves are smooth and may roll downward. The leaflets upper surface can be light green and smooth or light grayish-green and somewhat hairy.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The purple stems branch in the upper portion. They are typically smooth but can be sparsely hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
