Thalictrum aquilegiifolium

RHS Plant Profile
French meadow rue

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French meadow rue visionspictures.com
French meadow rue visionspictures.com

Other common names

columbine meadow rue, feathered columbine, Spanish tuft, tufted columbine

Synonyms

Thalictrum aquilegiifolium hybrids

Herbaceous Perennial
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A vigorous herbaceous perennial to 1m tall, with attractively-divided, blue-green leaves and fluffy pink, pale purple or white flowers in dense clusters on erect stems in late spring and early summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe to temperate Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade; growth starts in mid to late spring so take care to avoid damaging dormant plants when cultivating nearby earlier in the year

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as ripe or in early spring or by division as new growth begins in spring, divisions may be slow to re-establish

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove spent flowers when faded

Pests

Slugs may be a problem

Diseases

Susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions