Thalictrum is prized for its airy display of flowers carried on slender, wiry stems throughout summer. Tall stems are topped with clouds of tiny frothy blooms, in pretty shades of pink, white or pale gold, creating an ethereal haze at the back of borders. Its upright stems rise above a clump of attractive rounded foliage, reminiscent of Aquilegia, bringing a delicate softness to planting schemes. Thalictrum adds wispy height and movement borders, tempting pollinating insects to a feast of nectar from June through to early September.

Commonly known as Meadow Rue, this hardy perennial thrives in moist but well drained soils. It prefers a lightly shaded position but copes well in sunnier spots where soils remain moist in summer.

Thalictrum blends beautifully into woodland plantings and romantic cottage garden borders, rubbing shoulders with ferns, grasses and other textural perennials. Taller varieties are best placed at the back of borders for a low maintenance, long lasting backdrop, while shorter forms make a delightful low-maintenance choice for patio pots and softening the front of borders.

How to plant:

— Thalictrums are supplied as bare roots in spring for planting between February and May. They must be planted soon after delivery as they do not survive for long without light and moisture. If you can't plant on the day of delivery, remove the roots from the packaging and place in a bowl of water outdoors to soak, then plant within a week.

— Thalictrums are hardy to around -20C and don’t require and frost protection. It is not recommended to plant bare root Thalictrums directly into a border as they can struggle to settle into garden soil as dormant bare roots. Additionally, there are various other factors which can cause them to fail when planted directly into borders. They should be potted up and positioned outside to grow on through spring, then transplanted to borders later in the season when they are more established.

— If your Thalictrum is intended for a border, pot up into a 15-20cm diameter temporary pot using multipurpose compost. Ensure the full root system is submerged below the soil surface. The buds at the top of the root system should be level with the soil surface after planting. If supplied later in spring, they may have some shoots/leaves which should be left exposed above the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting.

— Meadow Rue can also grow well in patio containers. You can plant directly into a 25-30cm+ diameter patio container filled with good quality multipurpose compost as described above for potting up.

— If potting up, grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors in their temporary pots during spring, this will give them an easy start and then they can be transferred into a border later in the season once the plant is more established with a stronger root system. The plant will be ready to transfer once roots begin to emerge from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and when the plant easily comes out of the pot with the soil held together by the roots.

— When your Thalictrum plants are ready to transfer into a border, choose a lightly shaded position with moist but well drained soil. Thalictrum can also tolerate a sunnier spot provided that the soil remains damp and doesn't frequently dry out. Allow the compost in the pot to dry out slightly before removing from the pot, this will help prevent the soil from falling from the roots during transfer. Space the plants 20-30cm apart if planting a group. Add multipurpose compost to each planting hole to help the new roots grow.

— Keep a close eye on your new Thalictrums for pest damage and keep space clear around the young plant, removing weeds and also excess growth from neighbouring plants to reduce competition. Ensure the soil remains slightly moist around new plants, particularly during the first growing season.

— This perennial is hardy and does not require winter protection in most areas. In very cold areas, it is recommended to apply mulch around young Thalictrums to help protect them from severe weather during their first winter.

— When supplied in late spring, your Thalictrum bare root is likely to have sprouted shoots or leaves already which may be pale in colour. Plant with the shoots/leaves exposed above the soil surface, they will soon green up and continue to grow.

Aftercare

— Deadhead Thalictums after flowering to encourage more flowers to grow later in the season.

— Taller varieties may need staking, particularly in windy locations. Insert twiggy sticks or other plant supports early in the growing season to prevent damage to the developing stems.

— In autumn, Thalictrum will naturally die back, although some leaves may remain. Remove any last stems in autumn just above ground level, the plant will become dormant for winter. The following spring, new growth will start to emerge.

— Meadow Rue will produce leaves in the first year and often a small display of flowers. If they do not produce flowers in the first year, providing they have grown healthy foliage they will start flowering well in the second year.

— Thalictrum is a clump-forming perennial which grows back larger and with more stems each year.

— You can divide established Thalictrum clumps between autumn and early spring when needed.

— Read further general instructions about planting bare-root perennials