Thalictrum for the Rock Garden and Woodland.

Thalictrum for the Rock Garden and Woodland.

 Thalictrum diffusiflorum from Tibet, mine is from AGS seed in 2009 No.5114 this Thalictrum is deffinatly suitable for the shaded position in the rock garden getting up to 30cm.  having the largest flowers of the Thalictrums that I grow and not having seen all the Thalictrums listed in Dan Hinkley's book 'The Explorer's Garden'.
I can only compare with what I have seen and grown. About 6 seeds germinated and I potted them on, when they promptly started to die, thinking the potting mix may be too alkaline I put them into the garden where only one plant survived to go to my new garden and I only had one flower this year, hopefully it will bulk up. I read where Dan Hinkley said "it was cranky in nursery containers".

Thalictrum kiusianum found growing in Korea and Japan in Mountain habitats. Loose heads of lavender flowers with fine ovate blue green leaflets. The whole plant only reaches about 10cm in height, but it needs a moist shaded position in the garden. Division is the best way to propagate it, as it is rhizomatous just dig up a small piece at the side of the plant and pull it off. Rather than dig up the whole plant.
Gentiana Nursery has Thalictrum Kiusianum for sale.

Thalictrum tuberosum from Spain and the Pyrenees in dryish rocky habitats. Flower stems get up to 30cm tall with the palest yellow to cream flowers. The roots are tuberous and the stems of the flowers come out of a rosette of basal leaves. We saw this growing in the mountains of Spain, no seed I'm afraid only a few flowers. Aaron raised my plant from seed.

Lynn McGough's photo.

Plants available from Lynn's Rare Plants and David Kennedy's Clover Hill Plants but you may have to wait.

Thalictrum ichangense 'Purple Marble'  another small grower with gorgeous purple marbled green leaves and fluffy mauve flowers. Only grows to about 30cm, does well in most soils but needs shade in the summer another plant that can be propagated by division.
My plant came from Lynn's Rare Plants but Clover Hill Plants sells it as well.

Thalictrum aquilegifolium Europe and N. Asia we saw this growing in Spain in damp meadows in full sun and semi shade, but moist underfoot. Beautiful columbine like foliage, the wide heads of fluffy flowers of rich rosy lilac or the white form with creamy white flowers. A very easy plant and will self sow when happy.
David Kennedy's photo of both the white and the rosy Thalictrum aquilegifolium.

Thalictrum delavayi (Below) also sold as Thalictrum dipterocarpum vary rarely is the true T. dipterocarpum plant offered (common name in Australia as Lavender Showers). From W. China each flower has a tuft of cream stamens hanging from a covering of about five lilac petals, about 1 to 11/2 meters high. A lovely plant for a deep soil in a semi shaded position. Easy from seed.

 Thalictrum delavayi 'Album'.
Lynn McGough's photo.

Thalictrum rochebrunianum I have never seen or grown this Thalictrum but Lynn grows it and it does well for her.
Lynn McGough photo.

Thalictrum delavayi 'Hewitt's Double' sacrifices the lovely pale yellow stamens for a double layer of lilac petals, the double flowers make it a plant to lust after. I had not seen it advertised anywhere for sale in Australia and I rang Lynn to see if she had some photo's of Thalictrums and she sent T. 'Hewitts Double' I was surprised, she said she had a lovely clump and had divided it into 3 and promptly lost 2 plants but one is still growing well. As with Thalictrum 'Elin' it can only be propagated by division or cuttings taken before it flowers when the stems are sappy

 Thalictrum delavayi 'Hewitts Double' close up of flowers.

Lynn McGough photo.

Thalictrum 'Elin' I have never known a Thalictrum to get so tall as this one 2 to 21/2 meters tall it can only be propagated by division and cuttings as it is a sterile hybrid absolutely stunning, with strong stems coming up out of the ground like a Triffid. When it does come out in flower all of these amazing fluffy flowers, each head would by 30cm wide.
David Kennedy from Clover Hill Plants sold me my plant but unfortunately I do not have a photo.

Tissue Culture has proven to be a viable alternative for bulking up hybrids and cultivars according to Dan Hinkley. May be this is the way we can import these plants into Australia, as tissue culture does not require quarantine as the tubs are sterile and only need to be inspected on arrival into Australia.
Thank you to Lynn McGough and David Kennedy for some of the photos.