Lavender Lace

High 83 F
Low  55 F

In the garden there are those perennials which are standouts with no need to elbow their way front and center.   Perennials such as peonies and phlox always catch ones' eye with their big, showy flowers and subtle fragrance but a garden made up of only the 'showgirls' would be sensory overload for those of us who enjoy the subtlety of fine foliage, delicate stippling and gem sized flowers.  I have not met a garden connoisseur or even a basic plant lover who favors the wild abundance of vivid annuals to the elegance of a well planned perennial garden.  I think there are many more of the 'understudies'  playing their roles to perfection and adding charm and interest to the border than the 'showgirls'.  That is the way it has to be.  Too many stars will spoil the show.  One such plant is meadow rue or Thalictrum rochebruneanum 'Lavender Mist'.  Mist it is as it raises its' tiny but perfect blossoms up over its' delicately textured, mounding leaves on wiry but sturdy stems.  The plants in my garden have been more vigorous in past years and should probably be lifted, divided and given a fresh bath of compost.  I think this plant looks better in good sized groupings to enhance the veil like effect of its' airborne flowers and I must add some more to this planting.   This Thalictrum is native to Japan and mine flowers fairly well in high canopy shade.  The foliage is somewhat like that  of columbine which is also in the Ranunculaceae family although I have yet to see leaf miner damage, which seems to be standard on columbine leaves, on the leaves of this plant. Another big advantage to growing this meadow rue is that it is blooming right now in the garden which is a bit later than the phlox but before the colorful asters and sneeze weeds come into bloom.  It is airy and ethereal and a great addition to the border.   Are any of you having success with this or other species of meadow rue?

Comments

[Jane Marie]

I've never had meadown rue in my garden, but I'm always looking for plants that bloom late in the summer. It looks like one to plan on for next year. I love the color of this Lavender Mist.

[suz]

Layanee
I love the Thalictrums! I has several other species, the aquilegiifolium which gets to 3 feet, blooms in the late spring, the delavayi album which I transplanted from along the road & alpninum which I started from seed. It is a darling, only 6 inches tall from the highlands of Scotland (Chilton seeds). I let them all reseed whereever they may. The rochebrunianum planted itself with the Physocarpos (ninebark) 'Diablo'
whose dark purple, nearly black leaves really showcase it! I also love the annuals, not the bright showy colors, but the blues, lavenders, purples& pinks.

[Gail]

What a lovely Thalictrum, Layanee! It is a delicate beauty with that lovely coloring and leaf shape! I have an early blooming native in white flower near the front entrance, but I must admit this is a tempting plant to bring color to that area at this time of year!

I enjoy annuals like zinnia and cosmos, their exuberance is a good fit for my garden's wildness.

[Annie in Austin]

Lavender Mist grew in a front bed in Illinois, Layanee- and when seedlings sprouted to make a grouping it felt like a precious gift. One rainy year they were as tall as I am.

I brought a young plant with me to Austin but it died fast, so I'll enjoy your photos but won't kill any more of them. Thanks for reminding me of an old favorite.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

[Kevin]

Wow, great shots! I've never seen such flowers. I really enjoyed the photos and the bokeh on the last 2 pictures.
-Kevin

[Connie]

A beautiful plant, in both flower and form!
I had a cream colored meadow rue in my flower garden that got so big and thuggish, I had to remove it. It only bloomed in early spring.

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

That is beautiful without being flashy. I tried growing this Thalictrum, but it died. I have managed to keep Thalictrum 'Thudercloud' alive for a couple of years so far.

[Layanee]

JM: I think you would like this one!

Suz: That combo with the ninebark must look great. I will have to look into those other Thalictrums.

Gail: Those meld well in the border don't they. Zinnias are a favorite although I don't have any this year. I did plant them at my Mom's though. Must take a picture of hers.

Annie: Glad to help bring back the memories. They do get tall on occasion don't they.

Kevin: Thanks

Connie: Big and thuggish should always hit the compost pile. This one is well behaved.

MMD: I will have to look up 'Thundercloud'.

[Kim]

awww... I lost my 'Hewitt's Double' from last year over the winter. I think that it was just too dry in that spot for my meadow rue. Too bad, judging by the beauty of yours!

[Bethany]

So pretty. Love your photos. This flower is beautiful. I've never heard of it before. I'm so new to all this. Your blog is a real treat.

[Lori]

I purchased this plant 3 years ago. It is struggling, but thankfully, gently reseeds itself. Though they are shorter and less sturdy, but I have more plants and a more tiered display. I think my area is too dry for it to thrive. However, your photos really showcase its beauty.