Meadow-rue

Family Ranunculaceae. The genus comprises up to 150 species, distributed mainly in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the mountains of tropical America and in southern Africa.

Rhizomatous perennials with erect, leafless or sparsely leafy stems up to 200 cm tall. Leaves basal and cauline, pinnately divided, lacy, glossy above, sometimes pubescent beneath. Flowers small, numerous, gathered in panicle-like, racemose or corymbose inflorescences. Perianth simple, four- or five-parted, white, yellowish, lilac or pale pink. Numerous stamens much longer than the perianth segments. Fruit a cluster of achenes. Achenes sessile or on a stalk with the column remaining as a beak. Seeds large, elongate. Up to 650 seeds in 1 g.

Location: Meadow-rue is best grown in shade. In sun the colour of the inflorescences by the end of June, especially in dry weather, fades and yellow tones appear. With insufficient moisture the scent of the flowers disappears. Hardy. Soil: all meadow-rues are undemanding with regard to soil, but grow better in fertile, deeply worked, nutrient-rich and well-moistened soils.

Care: require watering during periods of drought. Low-growing meadow-rues do not require pruning; the columbine-leaved meadow-rue is pruned after flowering.

Diseases and pests: attacked by aphids in dry weather.

Propagation: by division of the clump, cuttings and seeds, which are sown in beds before winter. Can be sown in spring in protected soil after one month of stratification. Seedlings are undemanding, develop quickly, and flower in the second year. Clumps are divided at the end of April or at the beginning of September and planted 40 cm apart. Plants can remain in the same place for 10 years or more. Cuttings are taken with a "heel" from young shoots with incompletely developed leaves.