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Herbaceous Perennial

Thalictrum dasycarpum

purple meadow rue

Produces upright purple stems to 2m tall withlacy mid-green leaves; nodding flowers ofpurplish-white have showy yellow stamens and areborne in early summer

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Contact with foliage may irritate skin. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Thalictrum can be rhizomatous or tuberous perennials with ternately or pinnately divided, often attractive foliage, and panicles or racemes of small flowers with showy stamens and sometimes large colourful petal-like sepals
Name status: Correct
Plant range: N America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade; may need staking in fertile conditions. See staking perennials for further advice.

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in early spring. Propagate by division in spring as new growth begins

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
City and courtyard gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down stems once flowering is over

Pests

Slugs may be a problem

Diseases

Susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions

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