This perennial is beloved for its airy flower clusters and petite, columbine-like foliage.
This easy-to-grow perennial has petite, columbine-like leaves.
Its foliage is compact and tidy while its flower stems tend to be pleasingly wayward and frothy.
Credit:Photo: Mavis August Torke
There are many different species of meadow rue.
They vary in size, hardiness, and bloom time.
The foliage color varies from chartreuse to grass-green to striking shades of blue-green.
Credit:Photo: Mavis August Torke
Meadow rue is slow to emerge from the soil in late spring.
The nectar of the flowers attracts bees, including honeybees, and butterflies.
The pH requirements vary by species but generally most prefer acidic soil.
It is also a great plant for rain gardens and pollinator patches.
Add low-growing meadow rue to rock gardens, provided they have moist, rich soil.
Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the nursery container and about the same depth.
Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball.
Gently tamp down the soil and water it well.
Keep it well-watered in the absence of rain.
Meadow Rue Care Tips
Meadow rue is a low-maintenance perennial.
Light
Meadow rue grows best in part or dappled shade.
Before you plant meadow rue, add organic matter to the soil if needed.
Meadow rue can grow in average garden soil as long as it provides medium moisture.
During dry spells, however, the plant should be watered regularly.
Temperature and Humidity
Most meadow rue grows in a temperate climate.
The winter hardiness varies with the species; some are hardy as far north as Zone 3.
Extreme summer heat and humidity, on the other hand, are not suitable for the plant.
Fertilizer
Meadow rue generally does not require fertilizer if it was planted in rich soil.
If your soil is poor, add acompleted balanced slow-release fertilizeronce each spring, following product label instructions.
In the spring or fall, cut the plant back to ground level.
Keep in mind that potted plants need more frequent watering and fertilization than garden plants.
Pests and Problems
Meadow rue is seldom affected by serious pests or diseases.
Powdery mildew is common.Slugsand snails may feed on the leaves.
The plant is rarely browsed by deer.
Plants that are at least three years old and established can be divided in the spring.
Dig out the clump with a shovel and separate it into smaller sections.
It grows 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
It is native to Europe and Central Asia.
Zone 5-8
Yellow Meadow Rue
The native range ofThalictrum flavumsubsp.glaucumis Spain and northwestern Africa.
It has yellow flowers in cloud-like sprays in the summer.
The foliage is fern-like and serrated.
It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet.
Zone 3-9
Lavender Mist Meadow Rue
Thalictrum rochebrunianumis native to Japan.
It has drooping, purple-tinged greenish-white flowers in late spring.
A popular cultivar is ‘Hewitt’s Double’ with tiny, fully double lilac flowers and pale yellow stamens.
They add a low-maintenance jolt of color and interest to the landscape, regardless of the season.
The plants are deer-resistant and mostly evergreen.
They need to be planted in the shade where the soil remains moist.
There are numerous hybrids in an ever-expanding range of colors.
This spring flower for shade needs a constantly moist, but well-drained, soil to thrive.
Most of the plants in this design are perennials, including meadow rue.
Usually, only tall varieties need staking.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Ruta graveolens.
North Carolina State University Extension.
