Thalictrum Little Pinkie - Meadow-rue

Thalictrum 'Little Pinkie' is an exquisite perennial plant of medium size, with a vaporous, graceful and elegant silhouette, reminiscent of an astilbe. With an airy habit, its long dark purple stems, upright and branching, bear a distinctive green, cut foliage with bluish reflections. They display, in early summer, a cloud of dark pink flowers, gathered in fluffy inflorescences, composed solely of stamens.

Thalictrum, also known as Meadow-rue, is a genus of perennial plants native to the Himalayas in Asia, from eastern Tibet to western China, belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. It is found in the wild at high altitudes, in forests, shrubs, and grassy slopes. This hybrid Meadow-rue is an herbaceous perennial, with an upright and erect habit, forming a fairly compact bushy tuft, from which flexible stems rise, strongly coloured in dark purple, reaching a height of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24in), with a width of about 30 cm (12in). Its deciduous glaucous green foliage, finely cut and very light, reminiscent of certain Capillaries, is composed of small pinnate or ternate leaves, with entire or trilobed leaflets. From June to July, large loose panicles appear, which are well-branched, formed by small corolla-less flowers, with multiple deep pink stamens. Not liking the competition from nearby roots, a planting distance of 30 cm (12in) around its base should be allowed. Meadow-rues, which are quite slow to establish, will become more and more beautiful over time.

Thalictrum 'Little Pinkie' is the ideal plant to brighten up and flower damp and shady areas of the garden. With its size, delicate and elegant bluish green foliage, as well as its vaporous aspect and beautiful dark purple colors, it will be perfect to add height and lightness to small shaded gardens. It will create a beautiful contrast with less delicate perennials, as well as on the edge of shrub borders. It will naturally find its place alongside Hostas, Hydrangeas, shrub or climbing Fuchsias, Japanese Anemones, Aconites, Astilbes, Campanulas, Buckthorn, Snowberries, Ferns, Hellebores, Foxgloves, Grasses, Perennial Geraniums, Elderberry, Sacred Bamboo.

The origin of the word Thalictrum comes from the Greek Thallein, which means to become green, and ictar, meaning quickly, in reference to its rapid growth.