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Purple meadow rue

Thalictrum dasycarpum

Last reviewed: November 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.

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Purple meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)
Photo: (c) Mary Krieger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mary Krieger

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 24 more states

Pollinators

wind-pollinated, small bees

Before you buy

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Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Purple meadow rue.

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.

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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.

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Ready to grow Purple meadow rue? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.