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Native Plant Database

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Thalictrum dasycarpum (Purple meadow-rue)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch. & Avé-Lall.

Purple meadow-rue, Meadow rue, Tall meadow-rue

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

USDA Symbol: thda

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Purple meadow-rue or tall meadow-rue is a stout, upright perennial, 2-6 ft. high, with purplish stems branching in the upper portion. The flowers, which occur in loose, delicate, terminal clusters, are creamy-green with petal-like sepals falling as they open. Numerous, colored, thread-like stamens remain, becoming drooping and tangled. The leaves are divided into numerous, three-lobed leaflets.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Dioecious
Flower: Flowers 1/2 inch
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , ND , NE , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , SD , TN , TX , UT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Ont. to e. B.C., s. to MD, OH, TX & AZ; rare & local in New England, ID, MT & n.e. WA
Native Habitat: Wet meadows; stream banks; prairies
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Rich, sandy or calcareous loams. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam Clay Loam Acid-based, Calcareous
Conditions Comments: In addition to its use in naturalized landscapes, tall meadow rue makes an interesting background plant in designed beds.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Water garden, Bog or pond area, Ground cover
Use Food: In the first century AD, Pliny recomended meadowrue for preventing baldness and restoring hair. Most species produce chemicals called alkaloids, some of which have been used to combat tumours. A few species contain the heart toxin thalictrine. (Kershaw)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Cold-moist stratify for 4-6 weeks before planting.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Thalictrum dasycarpum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thalictrum dasycarpum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thalictrum dasycarpum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-12-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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