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© Jason Sturner from Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, some rights reserved (CC-BY) · Wikimedia Commons
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Overview
Thalictrum dioicum is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial reaching 12-30 inches (30-75 cm) tall, with slender, branching stems rising from a fibrous-rooted crown. Leaves are compound and divided two to three times into rounded, lobed leaflets 0.5-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) wide, blue-green and thin-textured, giving an airy, fern-like appearance. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Drooping male flowers carry clusters of pale green to yellowish stamens that dangle and tremble in wind; female flowers are smaller with purplish pistils. Flowering occurs from April through May, before the forest canopy fills in. Wind carries the pollen, so the flowers lack petals and scent. Dry, ribbed seeds follow on female plants. Foliage often yellows and dies back by midsummer in dry shade. Plants spread slowly, mainly by seed, and form loose colonies in rich woodland soil over time.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and Alabama, west to the Dakotas and Missouri. Grows in rich, moist deciduous woods, shaded ravines, and rocky wooded slopes with humus-rich soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in woodland and shade gardens, native plant gardens, and along shaded paths at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. The fern-like foliage and early flowers fill the spring woodland layer before later perennials emerge. Summer dormancy in dry shade leaves gaps, suiting it to combinations with later-emerging shade plants.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'6"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Blooms April through May, opening before the deciduous canopy leafs out. The petalless flowers are wind-pollinated, with male plants showing dangling pale stamens for 2-3 weeks. Female flowers are smaller and less noticeable. Bloom timing advances in warmer springs.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale green to yellowishFoliage Description
blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight