Species meadow rue
white-plum flowers, brown stems and lime-green leaves

meadow rue

Thalictrum kiusianum

Meadow Rue (Thalictrum kiusianum) is a showy perennial wildflower native to East Asia. Its fuzzy, grey-green foliage produces white or pink blooms in summer that attract pollinators. The plant shines very brightly in the garden and will often self-seed if allowed. It grows to a modest height of about 12-24 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide. Meadow rue prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, organically rich soil. It's long stems and foliage make it a perfect addition to a wildflower meadow and attract butterflies, bees, and birds.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Lavender to pinkish-purple Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

watering

Meadow Rue (Thalictrum kiusianum) should be watered weekly, approximately 1" per week. Water in the morning to give plants an opportunity to completely dry out before evening and reduce disease risk. During hot, dry weather, water frequently, approximately 1" every 3 days. Avoid watering in the late afternoon or evening. Over-watering will cause the leaves to yellow or wilt, and the plant may die from root-rot. Be sure to check the soil moisture before watering as excessive water might cause excessive growth and can lead to fungal diseases.

sunlight

Meadow rue (Thalictrum kiusianum) typically prefers full sun when growing in the garden. An ideal location would be somewhere where the plant receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. In regions with very hot summers, some afternoon shade may be beneficial, as the plant may suffer from too much heat and lose foliage. When established, the plant is somewhat more tolerant of lower light conditions and can even survive in partial shade. Just be aware that the growth and flowering potential will generally be affected if the plant does not receive adequate sunlight.

pruning

Meadow Rue (Thalictrum kiusianum) should be pruned twice a year. Pruning in the late winter or early spring will encourage healthier growth and increased flowering. Care should be taken when pruning in late winter as flower buds and new growth may have already formed. Prune the meadow rue lightly, removing old, woody stems and dead leaves. In late summer, after its flowers have wilted, another light pruning can be done to shape the plant. Remove any thin or weak stems, and cut back any woody stems that are blocking other stems from growing. Prune only the dead and unhealthy branches. Don't cut back the branches too far as this may overstress the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Thalictrum kiusianum typically starts flowering in May.

Hardiness Map