Thalictrum dasycarpum

Tall meadow rue Description:

Thalictrum dasycarpum, commonly known as Meadow Rue, is a herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It is native to North America and can be found in moist prairies, meadows, and along stream banks from the eastern part of the United States to the Great Plains.

Meadow Rue typically grows 2 to 8 feet tall and has a bushy, clump-forming habit. It has finely divided, bluish-green foliage that resembles that of a fern. The plant produces airy, delicate-looking panicles of small, greenish-white flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer. The flowers are followed by attractive, fluffy seed heads that persist into the fall.

Thalictrum dasycarpum is an excellent plant for naturalizing in a garden or landscape, and it is highly attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It is also easy to grow and prefers a moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. The plant is deer-resistant and can be used in borders, wildflower meadows, or as a specimen plant.

Native Range:

Tall meadow rue has a fairly wide distribution. Its range extends from Washington state on the far Western edge, to Texas as the southern edge, and up to New York on the Northeastern edge. In minnesota, Tall meadow rue can be found in nearly all regions of the state.

Standard Plant Information:

Plant Height: 2' - 8'

Bloom Time: June - July

Preferred Habitat: Does well in part shade to full sun in moist soil. Often found in woodland edges, thickets, meadows, fens, shorelines, and wet ditches.

Sowing:

For most homeowners, the best option is to scatter seed on the ground by hand broadcasting at a minimum of 16-64 pls ounces per acre. For even coverage, we recommend that you broadcast seed in perpendicular rows across the site to ensure even coverage.

You’ll want to broadcast any grass seed first, which will get raked into the soil lightly. Next, it is ideal to mulch the area lightly with either a clean (no seed) straw or preferably with our native Little Bluestem straw, sold at our retail garden centers. After a light mulching is complete, now it’s time to broadcast your native wildflower seeds, which should not be raked into the soil. A good rain or watering is sufficient to cover the seed.

Planting:

Simply dig a hole in the soil slightly larger than the plant’s roots. Ensure that the soil line of the plant is maintained during the transfer (i.e. the plant should be at the same level with the ground as it was in the pot). Pack any loose dirt back around the plant and make sure you water it well the same day to ensure it has the best chance of survival.