Purple meadow rue
Thalictrum dasycarpum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Thalictrum dasycarpum, or purple meadow rue, is a tall wetland and prairie forb that blooms in June and July, thriving in part sun and consistently moist to wet soil.
Toxicity unknown
Purple meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
high
Size
36"–72" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, CO and 25 more states
Pollinators
wind-pollinated, small bees
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A tall meadow plant with purple-tinged stems, finely divided blue-green foliage, and airy plumes of creamy filaments on separate male and female plants. It holds upright in moist ground without flopping.
Growing Purple meadow rue
Grow Purple meadow rue in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 36 to 72 inches tall and spread 24 to 36 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Provides vertical structure and cover in wet meadows; the fine foliage shelters small invertebrates.
Common questions
- When does purple meadow rue bloom?
- Thalictrum dasycarpum typically flowers in June and July, with small greenish white blossoms held above the foliage on tall stems.
- What pollinates purple meadow rue?
- Its flowers are primarily wind pollinated, though small bees also visit to collect pollen, according to the Xerces Society.
- What growing conditions suit this plant best?
- It grows best in part sun with consistently moist to wet soil, the kind of conditions found in wet meadows, stream banks and prairie swales.
- Is purple meadow rue deciduous?
- Yes, it is a herbaceous perennial forb that dies back to the ground each year and regrows from its roots in spring.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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