Thalictrum dioicum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tha-LIK-trum dy-oh-EE-kum
- Description
-
Early Meadow Rue is an easy to grow native perennial wildflower in the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) family with lacy gray-green compound leaves which resemble the genus Aquilegia (columbine) and this plant is often confused with Columbine or the Adiantum genus (Maidenhair Fern). It is found naturally in seepages and moist forests.
It is a dioecious plant, meaning there are plants that contain male flowers, and separate plants with female flowers. It blooms in early spring, just as the leaves are coming out on the trees, which accounts for its common name. It's scientific name comes in part by dioicum which is Greek meaning "of two houses" referring to the flower sexes being on different plants. In bloom, the plant contains panicles of tiny, drooping, greenish-white petal-less flowers that hang like small tassels with a purple tinge which appear in late spring (April-May). The male flower has yellow stamens and female flower has purple pistils.
Plant in average to rich well-drained soil in the full sun to dappled or partial shade. Its gray-green leaves provide a great backdrop to other later flowering perennials and it looks attractive in a border front, in a meadow or cutting garden or naturalized area of the landscape. This plant is pollinated by the wind. It is heat and humidity sensitive and dies back in the middle of summer. After the plant dies back, low basal leaves develop during the fall.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Older plants may need to be staked to stay upright.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
























- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thalictrum
- Species:
- dioicum
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Border plant, early flowering so provides backdrop for later flowering perennials
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and Central North America, south eastern Canada
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer Resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Pointed at both ends and strongly ribbed from the female flowers
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Showy early spring (April-May) green-white with purple edges. Male flowers have yellow stamens and female flowers have purple pistils.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lacy delicate gray-green leaves (resembling columbine or maidenhair fern)
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stem and any side stems are pale green to pale purplish green and cylindrical
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity