Thalictrum pubescens

Common Names

King-Of-The-Meadow, Late Meadow-Rue, Muskratweed, Tall Meadow-Rue, Bisamruta

Summary

Tall meadow rue is a tall perennial native to eastern North America that forms clumps of erect, coarse stems 3–7 feet tall with basal and cauline leaves that are ternately and pinnately decompound; leaflets are blue-green and often pubescent on the petioles and rachises. Inflorescences are many-flowered panicles, racemes, or corymbs with tiny white flowers and showy threadlike stamens that give a fluffy starburst appearance; flowers bloom mid-June to August and most plants are dioecious, with separate male and female flowers though bisexual flowers can occur. It grows in habitats from rich woods, swamps, wet meadows, and floodplains to stream banks, and is a nectar and pollen source for bees and butterflies while being deer and rabbit resistant. For cultivation, it prefers average to moist, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade, tolerating sun only if soils remain consistently moist; hardy in zones 3–8; propagation is by division or seeds, with seeds sometimes germinating in the second year, and self-seeding in favorable conditions. Taller stems may require staking, and after bloom pruning helps maintain tidy growth; it is easy to grow with low maintenance and can be used in rear borders, woodland or shade gardens, wildflower meadows, rain gardens, pond margins, and naturalized plantings, while providing habitat value for pollinators and wildlife; possible problems include powdery mildew, smut, and rust.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-7 feet

Spread

1.5-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun: Sun, Partial Sun: Sun to part shade, Partial Shade: Part shade to shade, Full Shade: Part shade to shade

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, moist soil

Soil pH

6.0-6.8, Neutral to slightly acidic soil, Tolerates acidic to neutral soils

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Light to dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Not specified

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Division and Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies