Meadow Rue
Thalictrum dioicum
herbEarly meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum) is an airy, delicate native perennial of moist woodlands, growing 1 to 2 ft with lacy, blue-green foliage that looks much like a columbine or maidenhair fern and dangling, tassel-like greenish flowers in spring. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, the males prettiest with their drooping clusters of pale stamens. It is grown mainly as a graceful, fine-textured ornamental for the shade or woodland garden, where its ferny foliage softens bolder plants. Like others in the buttercup family it has a minor folk-medicinal history, but its garden role today is essentially ornamental.
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Sun
partial shade
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~90 days
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
12-18 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Barely cover seed; crowns at soil line
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Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, moist, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Spring; compost
Fertilizer
Compost; moderate needs
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow meadow rue in rich, moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial shade - dappled woodland light is ideal, and it dislikes hot, dry, full sun. Sow seed in fall (it has dormancy and germinates best after cold) or set out divisions in spring, spacing plants about 12 to 18 in. apart. Keep the soil consistently moist; it suffers in drought and in the heat and humidity of the deep South. It is otherwise low-care, dying back in winter and returning in spring, and it combines beautifully with other shade perennials. Divide clumps in spring to propagate.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jul 28
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Lungwort: A low, silver-spotted shade groundcover that carpets the ground beneath the airy meadow rue
- Sweet Woodruff: A fragrant shade groundcover that knits around the base in the same moist woodland bed
- Sweet Violet: Shares the moist shade and flowers in spring alongside the meadow rue
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Can appear in dry soil or crowding - keep the ground moist and give airflow
Rinse colonies from the soft new growth; predators help outdoors
May graze new shoots in the damp shade - use grit or traps
🌾 Harvest & storage
Meadow rue is grown as an ornamental, so cutting is mostly for the vase or for tidying: the lacy foliage and airy flower sprays are lovely in arrangements, cut in the cool morning. Cut spent stems back after flowering if you wish, and leave the plant to feed its roots. It self-sows lightly where happy; collect ripe seed in late summer if you want more.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Meadow rue is an ornamental shade perennial, not a food or culinary herb - like other buttercup-family plants it is best not eaten. It is grown purely for its delicate, fern-like foliage and airy spring flowers, which bring a soft, woodland texture to shady borders and cut arrangements.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.