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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This native wildflower grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil, typically found in swamps and wet thickets and meadows, stream banks and prairies. Environmental conditions will dictate the plant size. Plants situated in full sun will require more moisture than if grown in part shade.
Purple Meadow-due is dioecious, either male or female. The male plant tends to grow larger panicles than the female. There are no petals on the male plant. The 1/3" male flower will have 4-5 deciduous sepals and as many as 15 stamens. The filaments are slender and white, the anther pale yellow. The female also has 4-5 deciduous sepals, up to 15 light green pistols and again no petals. The wind will cross-pollinate the flowers. Male flowers are showier than female flowers.
It makes a great background plant for beds.
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
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- 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
- 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 Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The 1/2" flowers are often tinged purplish or brown. Their petal-like sepals that hang down when the flowers are open. The panicles can range in length from 9" to 2' long.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- 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
- Landscape Theme:
- Water Garden
