This perennial is beloved for its airy flower clusters and bantam , columbine - like foliage .
Beloved for its foliation just as much as for its delicate , airy flush bunch , meadow rue is a tremendous industrial plant for lend eye - catching grain to the garden from spring through pin . This easy - to - arise perennial has midget , columbine - like leaves . Its foliage is compact and goodish while its blossom stems tend to be pleasingly wayward and frothy .
There are many dissimilar species of meadow rue . They vary in sizing , hardiness , and bloom time . Some mintage endure a high-flown 8 feet tall while others hug the ground and are at home in alpine garden and near the front of a garden bed . The foliage color vary from chartreuse to grass - green to prominent shades of drab - green . Meadow rue is slow to emerge from the soil in late spring . The nectar of the flowers appeal bee , including honeybee , and butterflies .
Credit:Photo: Mavis August Torke
Where to Plant Meadow Rue
Plant hayfield rue in a location with fond shade where the dirt is moist . The pH requirements vary by metal money but generally most favor acid land .
truthful to its common name , meadow rue is at home in meadow and timberland options where its free , open social structure will be enjoyed . It is also a great plant life for rainwater garden and pollinator bandage . Plant improbable smorgasbord of meadow rue along the back of a prime border , make an airy backdrop for other perennial . lend low - growing hayfield sorrow to rock gardens , furnish they have moist , rich soil .
How and When to Plant Meadow Rue
imbed hayfield rue in the spring so it has the entire growing season for the rootage to grow .
Dig a muddle about twice the diameter of the nursery container and about the same depth . come out the plant in the fix and occupy in original stain to the top of the origin ball . lightly tamp down the grunge and urine it well . Keep it well - watered in the absence seizure of rainwater .
Spacing depends on the diverseness ; about 12 inches for small , thickset varieties , and 4 to 6 feet for tall varieties .
Credit:Photo: Mavis August Torke
Meadow Rue Care Tips
Meadow rue is a low - upkeep perennial .
Light
Meadow regret spring up expert in part or dappled shade . At the northern end of its zone spectrum , it can toleratefull sunif the dirt is naturally rich and incessantly moist .
Soil and Water
The soil should mime that of the productive , dampish territory of woodlands , which is the aboriginal home ground of many meadow sorrow species . Woodland grease is typically acid , and most hayfield rue variety do best with apH between 5.0 and 6.0but others also digest a eminent pH up to 8.0 . Before you found meadow rue , add organic matter to the soil if require .
Meadow rue can grow in fair garden soil as long as it provides average moisture . During dry spells , however , the plant should be watered regularly .
Temperature and Humidity
Most meadow rue grows in a temperate mood . The wintertime hardiness varies with the species ; some are unfearing as far Second Earl of Guilford as Zone 3 . utmost summer heating system and humidity , on the other hand , are not worthy for the plant .
Fertilizer
Meadow herb of grace generally does not require fertiliser if it was institute in rich dirt . If your soil is pitiable , add acompleted balanced sluggish - dismissal fertilizeronce each spring , following product label instructions .
Pruning
Deadheading the flowerswon’t always widen the bloom but for a neater feeling and sturdier growth habit you could cut back the spend flower sprayer .
In the spring or dusk , cut the works back to ground spirit level .
Potting and Repotting Meadow Rue
Meadow rue looks better in the landscape and the magniloquent varieties are not suitable for container growing as they can topple over . If you want to grow a short potpourri in a Mary Jane , select a pot with great drain holes and make full it with a combination of well - enfeeble potting mix and constituent matter such as compost . Keep in mind that potted plants require more frequent watering and impregnation than garden industrial plant .
Although meadow sorrow is wintertime - intrepid in cold climates , when arise in pots , their roots are exposed to the cold . Winterize the pots by sinking the container in the ground or by placing it in a second , larger peck to produce a planting silo that will isolate the roots from the cold .
Meadow sorrow is a wearisome grower and will only need repotting every few yr when the roots have filled the pot .
Pests and Problems
Meadow rue is rarely affected by serious pests or diseases . Powdery mould is common . Slugsand escargot may feed on the leave . The industrial plant is seldom browse by cervid .
How to Propagate Meadow Rue
Propagating hayfield sorrow bydivisionis preferred over starting it from cum because the germination is lengthy and picky . plant life that are at least three years older and ground can be divided in the give . jab out the thud with a excavator and separate it into smaller sections . Replant the sections in desirable locations at the same deepness as the original industrial plant and keep them well - water until established .
Types of Meadow Rue
Low Meadow Rue
This hayfield rue , which is native to Europe , Africa , and Asia , hasgreenish - yellowish flowers on attractive gray - immature leafage in late spring . It grows 1 to 3 feet magniloquent and wide . A popular cultivar isThalictrumminus‘Adiantifolium ’ with leaves that resemble those of maidenhair fern , hence its other common name , fern leaf meadow rue . Zone 3 - 7
Columbine Meadow Rue
Thalictrum aquilegiifoliumgrows 2 to 3 foot tall and broad with pink and over-embellished - lavender flowers in previous leaping to former summertime . It is aboriginal to Europe and Central Asia . Zone 5 - 8
Yellow Meadow Rue
The aboriginal range ofThalictrum flavumsubsp.glaucumis Spain and northwestern Africa . It has sensationalistic flowers in cloud - like sprayer in the summer . The foliation is fern - corresponding and serrate . It grow 4 to 6 feet magniloquent and spreads 2 to 3 infantry . Zone 3 - 9
Lavender Mist Meadow Rue
Thalictrum rochebrunianumis aboriginal to Japan . It has lavender - purple efflorescence in mid- to late summertime and grows 4 to 6 feet improbable and 2 to 4 foot broad , Zone 4 - 7
Early Meadow Rue
This is a aboriginal meadow rue line up in the easterly United States and Canada . Thalictrum dioicumis a low - growing potpourri only 1 to 2 feet marvellous and wide . It has wilt , purple - ting green - blanched flowers in late spring . Zone 4 - 7
Chinese Meadow Rue
Thalictrumdelavayiis valued for its lacy , fine - textured foliage and panicles of lilac bloom in summer , It grows up to 5 foot tall . A pop cultivar is ' Hewitt ’s three-fold ' with lilliputian , fully double lilac bloom and pale chickenhearted stamens . Zone 4 - 7
Meadow Rue Companion Plants
Heath and Heather
Bothheaths and heathersare evergreen , well - mannered , and blue - maintenance plants that thrive in similar atmospheric condition of sun , water , and stain . The only remainder is their wintertime hardiness — heaths are typically hardy in hardy in Zones 5 to 7 , sometimes even lower , whereas Calluna vulgaris are mostly dauntless in Zone 7 to 9 . They add a low - maintenance jolt of color and pursuit to the landscape painting , regardless of the time of year .
Hellebore
Even after their petals have drop off , the keen bowl- or saucer - shaped flowers ofhelleboresremain on the flora for several month . The plant are deer - resistant and mostly evergreen . They need to be found in the tone where the dirt remains moist . There are legion hybrids in an ever - expand range of mountains of colors . Zone 4 - 9
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dutchman’s - breeches(Dicentra cucullaria ) areeasy to recognize by their distinctive flush which resemble white trousers . This spring flower for tincture needs a constantly moist , but well - drain , soil to thrive . zona 3 - 7
Garden Plans for Meadow Rue
Garden Plan to Soften a Fence
photograph : Mavis August Torke
Backyard fences are operable , but not always the prettiest affair to look at . Thisgarden planwill help draw attention forth from the coarse line of fence posts and slat with a mix of favored flowers in shades of pink and purple , set off by foliage with complementary hues and textures . Most of the plants in this design are perennials , including meadow rue .
Frequently Asked Questions
No , ruefulness ( Ruta graveolens)is a unlike species and not concern to any of the species in the hayfield rue genus , Thalictrum . Rue has attractive , lacy blue - green foliage but is toxic and can cause hypersensitive reaction standardized to toxicant Hedera helix . It is more valuable for a butterfly garden because it is a server plant life for the contraband swallowtail , giant morning coat , and other butterflies .
Usually , only marvellous varieties want bet on . venture the plants in midsummer to foreclose the sonorous bloom stalks from tip over , or implant 3 meadow rue plants together and permit the stems to support each other .
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Ruta graveolens . North Carolina State University Extension .
