How to grow meadow rue like a pro

Meadow rue is a graceful plant with the texture of a maidenhair fern and a bonus of airy pastel flowers. As the name implies, this is a fine plant for meadows but it's also ideal for the edges of woodlands and for flower gardens. Check out these tips and get the most out of your meadow rue by growing it the right way.

• Standing 1 to 1.8 metres (three to six feet), meadow rue has presence when set in the background, while its attractive foliage and powder-puff flowers invite close scrutiny.
• Shade-tolerant meadow rue combines well with hosta, columbine and Solomon's seal.
• Its delicate green foliage, which appears mid-spring, makes it ideal for combining with ephemeral spring-flowering woodland plants, such as Virginia bluebells, bleeding heart and trillium, filling the site where their leaves fade away in early summer.

• Plant meadow rue in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, in a location that receives partial shade to sun. Plants growing in hot climates especially appreciate afternoon shade.
• To make a strong statement, group three to five plants, spacing them 35 to 40 centimetres (14 to 15 inches) apart.
• Each spring, apply a 2.5 centimetre (one inch) layer of composted manure at the base of the plants to keep the roots fertilized, cool and moist.
• In midsummer, if the leaves begin to decline after blooming ceases, you can prune the foliage back to the ground to force fresh new leaves. Pruning off the seed heads also prevents this wildflower from reseeding.
• Most species can be started from seeds sown outdoors in late summer. Cover the seeds with a light dusting of soil and keep them moist until seedlings are established.
• To increase your stock, take stem cuttings in spring and root them in moist soil. You can also divide mature plants in early spring. But, unless your stand becomes too dense, you can safely leave these insect- and pest-free plants undisturbed for years.

Once appreciated only by wildflower enthusiasts, meadow rue has recently caught the interest of nursery professionals.

• Thalictrum rochebrunianum 'Lavender Mist' reaches the impressive height of 1.8 metres (six feet) and has clusters of puffball-like purple flowers on wiry purple stems. Plant it in front of dark evergreens for contrast, with a front edge of tulips, hostas and columbines.
• Also compelling are two species that stand one metre (three feet) tall: T. flavum ssp. glaucum (formerly T. speciosissimum), with its airy, pale yellow flowers and grey-green leaves, and T. aquilegifolium, with white, lavender or pink blossoms.
• For a shorter plant, try T. kiusianum from Japan. At only 15 centimetres (six inches) tall with a spread of up to 60 centimetres (25 inches), it produces lavender flower puffs and is delightful for edging a woodland path or shady walkway.

Meadow rue is a low-maintenance plant, ideal for any outdoor space. Before getting started, keep these tips in mind and grow healthy meadow rue that will compliment your garden.