Thalictrum minus Adiantifolium - Meadow-rue

Thalictrum minus 'Adiantifolium' is a plant that owes its name first and foremost to its modest size, and then to the appearance of its finely cut foliage, which somewhat resembles that of ferns in the Adiantum genus. While this lovely selection is primarily appreciated for the lightness of its vegetation, its summer flowering which is slightly greenish yellow, bright and airy, is an additional charming asset. This delightful perennial, which thrives in dappled sunlight, finds its place in a wooded garden, along a path for example. It flourishes in any not too dry, well-drained soil, even with a tendency towards limestone.

Thalictrum minus, also known as Lesser Meadow-rue, is a herbaceous perennial plant with tufted and rhizomatous but non-invasive clumps, native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.  It is a species with highly variable appearance, from which horticulturists have selected very beautiful forms, such as Adiantifolium.

Starting from spring, the plant presents a rather bushy and dense habit. At maturity, it will reach about 60 cm (24in) in height when flowering and will spread slowly through its rhizomes across at least 50 cm (20in) of ground. Its upright and angular stems are marked with stripes or furrows. They bear leaves that are generally triangular, as long as they are wide, deeply cut into small leaflets that do not exceed 1.5 cm (1in) in width. These leaflets also have highly cut edges, somewhat like those of flat-leaf parsley. Their colour is a slightly bluish medium green, similar to that of columbines. The flowering takes place in summer, usually in July-August. From the foliage tuft, thin and sturdy green stems rise to a height of about 60 cm (24in), depending on the growing conditions. They form loose, terminal and axillary panicles, well-branched, composed of small cup-shaped flowers, inclined, with four creamy yellow sepals enhanced by prominent greenish stamens. Individually, these flowers are quite inconspicuous, but their abundance gives the panicles a beautiful cloudy appearance. Not liking the competition of nearby roots, a planting distance of 40 cm (16in) around its base should be respected. The Meadow-rues, which are rather slow to establish, will become more and more beautiful over time. Thalictrum minus does not tolerate the combination of heat with very wet soil.

This Meadow-rue prefers semi-shaded areas of the garden, bright but not scorching, and requires less water than most of its counterparts, as suggested by its natural habitat. With its delicate foliage of great freshness, as well as its airy appearance, it will be perfect to add a light touch to other plants in the garden. It will be very effective in contrast with less delicate perennials (Bergenia, Hosta), as well as at the edge of shrub borders, by a carpet of lambs' ears or Ajuga reptans for example. It can also be combined with small shrubs with purple foliage (Physocarpus, Berberis), orange or pink daylilies, botanical peonies...