July Plant of the Month – Elin Meadow Rue

BOTANICAL NAME  Thalictrum ‘Elin’

COMMON NAME  Elin Meadow Rue

DESCRIPTION  ‘Elin’s Meadow Rue features tall, purple-tinged sturdy stems that culminate in open sprays of bicolored pale yellow and lavender flowers.  In spring, the shoots emerge purple then unfurl their finely cut blue-green foliage.

FAMILY  Ranunculaceae

HEIGHT  8 feet

WIDTH   2 feet

HABIT  Upright

ZONES  4 to 8

EXPOSURE  Partial Shade

FLOWER COLOR  Purple

BLOOM SEASON  Late Summer

COMPANION PLANTS  Chelone, golden foliage

GROWING AND MAINTENANCE TIPS  Does best in moist to average organic soils

NOTES  Woodland garden, perennial border.  Hybrid between Thalictrum flavum var. glaucum and Thalictrum rochebrunianum so it does not set seed.  Scented.  Attracts butterflies.