A subtly beautiful and structurally impactful perennial flower, ideal for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your garden immediately.

Thalictrum, a member of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family, is a group of perennials that are gaining popularity in modern gardening due to their architectural stems and late-flowering nature. Originating from the temperate climate of the northern hemisphere, these plants are hardy and thrive in various conditions, making them an excellent addition to any garden.

Stunning Varieties of Thalictrum

Thalictrum 'Anne' is a tall, striking plant with thinner and blacker stems than 'Elin', yet still self-supporting, reaching heights of 2.5m. Another notable variety is 'Tukker Princess', a giant form with striped stems in pink, dusky-grey, and lime-green, growing to a height of 2-3m. Its large soft-yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the glaucous, ferny foliage that lasts until November.

'Black Stockings' is another eye-catching variety, with dark black stems that contrast beautifully with the lavender-purple flowers and delicate, scalloped foliage. It grows to a height of 2m.

Flowering Season and Planting Schemes

Most thalictrums flower through summer, from July through to September, making them ideal for modern prairie-planting schemes that involve statuesque, late-flowering perennials and grasses. They are often used as a backbone in continental planting. Taller thalictrum varieties may need some support, but it's best done discreetly with pea sticks or thin metal stakes.

April-flowering tulips work well with young thalictrum foliage. Thalictrums prefer damp, often shaded situations, but they will do well in moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil in a sheltered position, with or without shade, as long as their roots are not allowed to dry out.

Cultivation and Care

Thalictrums are easy to grow from seed, but the seed must be sown once it ripens on the plants in late summer or autumn. They are out of the ground by March and by mid-April, they're 30cm high while the rest of the border is generally still underground.

It's advisable to deadhead thalictrums if you don't want them to self-seed. Contact with the foliage may irritate the skin, so it's advisable to wear gloves when handling thalictrums.

Thalictrums are rabbit- and deer-proof due to the toxic alkaloids they contain. The young foliage of thalictrums is ignored by slugs.

Rare and Interesting Species

There are approximately 150 species of thalictrums, but relatively few are grown in cultivation. Some interesting species come from the Himalayas, eastwards to China, Korea, and Japan. Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum is grown for its handsome powdery, blue-grey foliage, strong upright stems, and frothy, yellow flowers.

Thalictrum minus 'Adiantifolium' is small and low growing with delicate foliage, similar to a maidenhair fern, which lasts well all season. It is perfect for quiet, shady areas.

Thalictrum delavayi var. decorum has long, dark, wiry stems, small, delicate, three-lobed, green leaves, and relatively large, bluish-purple flowers.

Propagation and Availability

To propagate named cultivars, divide the rootstock of established clumps in early spring, just before they come into growth. Several interesting species and varieties can be found and purchased at Aberglasney Gardens, Great Dixter, Cotswold Garden Flowers, Crûg Farm Plants, and Beeches Nursery.

Thalictrum ramosum has black, wiry stems and dark buds held above tiny, blue-green leaves. The flowers are large, lavender orbs of stamens and last a very long time. It is only available at Crûg Farm Plants and is 30-40cm tall.

Thalictrum ichangense is a small, slow-growing Asian species with miniature begonia-like foliage. Several duskier forms are being micropropagated. It is 5cm tall.

Thalictrum lucidum is slender and upright with stiff, ridged, green stems and unusual shiny, green, herringbone-shaped foliage. The fragrant, wispy, lemon flowers appear in July, by which time the leaves will have yellowed. It is 2-3m tall and has a hardiness rating of USDA 7a-9b.

Thalictrum Splendide White (= 'Fr21034') produces a profusion of sparkling white flowers on elegant stems above aquilegia-like foliage. It is 2m tall and has a hardiness rating of USDA 4a-7b.

Questions about Thalictrum should focus on key events and timelines, such as when the first seeds were harvested, to provide a broad understanding of its cultivation and development history.