Thalictrum pubescens

Tall Meadow Rue

• Full sun to partial shade
• Average to high moisture settings
• 3' to 7' in height, 2' to 3' in spread
• Early to Mid Summer Blooms
• Ontario Native Species, Thrives in high moisture settings in woodlands or meadows

Tall Meadow-Rue thrive in wet soils in full sun, where they will tend to reach 5’ to 7’ in height and bloom in July, they will also grow in slightly drier areas in partial shade, where they will tend to be a bit shorter and bloom a bit later. 

Their fluffy white flowers are followed by bright green seed heads which are visually striking in their own right. Quite a bit taller than they are wide, I’d suggest planning for a 2’ to 3’ spread when finding them a home. 

In their book A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla list them as a specialist host plant for 11 species of insects including the Pink Patched Looper, Canadian Owlet and  Bold-feathered Grass moths (moth common names can be so cool).

In the high moisture, sunny settings they pair beautifully with Joe-Pye-Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod Ironweed and Steeplebush. In dryer (but not DRY), shadier settings I’d suggest planting them alongside Red Monarda, Thimbleweed, Poke Milkweed, Heart-leaved Aster and Zigzag Goldenrod.