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Thalictrum delavayi

Chinese meadow rue

Chinese meadow rue

© RHS

54 suppliers RHS Plant Shop from £5.49

  • Other common names Chinese meadow rue

  • Synonyms Thalictrum dipterocarpum misapplied

  • Family Ranunculaceae

  • 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

  • Details T. delavayi is an upright herbaceous perennial to 1.5m, with large leaves divided into many small oblong leaflets, and large open panicles of lilac-mauve flowers 2cm in width, with prominent cream stamens

  • Plant range China Tibet

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Columnar/Upright

  • Toxicity Contact with foliage may irritate the skin

  • 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)

    H7

Colour

Sunlight

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect East-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained

  • SoilClay, Loam, Chalk

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 1-1.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade. May need staking

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 Flower borders and beds Cut Flowers Cottage & Informal Garden Wildlife Gardens

How to care

Pruning Cut down stems once flowering is over

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases May be subject to powdery mildews in dry conditions

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Thalictrum delavayi

Chinese meadow rue

Buy from £5.49 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £5.49 at the RHS Plants Shop

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