THALICTRUM. Meadow-rue. Northern Hemisphere, temperate regions. A large group of perennials, valued for their often huge, much-dissected leaves resembling those of the related columbines. Clouds of small blossoms are displayed on intricately branched stems above the foliage in summer. Many have petal-like sepals and showy brushes of stamens. Winter deciduous. They are at their loveliest in large drifts, should you have the space. Light to medium shade, reasonably well drained soil, regular watering. Hardy to below 0^oF.

aquilegifolium. One of the stockier species, with 3' stems, lush and rather closely set leaves and dense, well-branched flower clusters. Each blossom has a conspicuous brush of stamens or pistils, lavender pink in the typical form.‘Album’ has the same foliage and large flower clusters as the typical form, but the flowers are pure white in color. ‘Purpurascens’ (perhaps more properly, ‘Purpureum’, but this is unclear), has dark purplish pink flowers.

coreanum (ichangense). Much of the time, this species more resembles an epimedium than other thalictrums. In the current undeclared selection, it has stayed under 1' tall. The leaves are divided into only a few leaflets, but these are broad and rounded. The flower stems barely exceed the foliage in summer, carrying small clusters of pretty mauve blossoms.

delavayi ‘Hewitt's Double’. This plant much resembles T. dipterocarpum, below, with 3-4' stems and large, airily dissected blue green leaves. In summer it carries clusters of dozens to hundreds of small, fully double mauve flowers. These manage not to sacrifice too much of the grace of the single-flowered forms.

dipterocarpum. A graceful, open plant up to 5' tall, with long-stalked leaves, small bluish green leaflets and airy, slender stemmed clusters of mauve blossoms. Here the showier parts are the colored sepals.

fendleri var. polycarpum (T. polycarpum). This is one of four California native meadow rues under the latest taxonomic scheme, and the one most likely to be met by casual hikers. It is a highly variable species, with plants from 2' to over 6' tall. The large, highly dissected leaves are bright green to greyish green in color. The flowers are less likely to be noticed, for they can be the same color as the leaves, though often they are tinged more with purple. Even without flowers, it would be well worth using, as one would use a large fern, in the woodland garden.

rochebrunianum. This is one of the giants of the group, reaching 6' or more. It has sturdy stalks and very large, bold leaves. The flowers much resemble those of T. dipterocarpum, though they are individually larger, more densely clustered, and darker in color. A truly majestic perennial.

speciosissimum. This is another one of the giants, growing about 6' tall in our parent stock. It has stout, leafy stems, very large, pale green leaves, and light yellow blossoms, borne in huge clusters.