Thalictrum delavayi album seeds – (Meadow Rue)

Description

These are open pollinated seeds of the very beautiful white variety of Thalictrum delavrayi . It produces small hovering shiny white flowers which shimmer like tiny parasols amongst delicate maiden-hair-fern like leaves. It flowers on into autumn. Its leaves are somewhat paler than the other Delavayi varieties. It is a beautiful addition to the summer border.

It is a member of the buttercup family and grows high on hillsides in scrub in the North western Yunnan province of China, in ground that is often stony and acidic.

In gardens the plant seems to adapt well to a range of conditions, from full sun to dappled shade, in any reasonably well drained soil, and does not like to be waterlogged.  Try to protect it from winds by placing it next to a protecting plant on the windward side, so that you don’t have to stake it, as its airiness is spoilt by staking. It is a very useful and pretty garden plant which does not seem to take very much care and increases a little in size year on year.

Sowing advice

Sow indoors immediately that you receive them in spring.   Sow onto moist well-drained seed compost. Just cover the seed with vermiculite or soil. Ideal temp. 13-16°C. Keep soil moist but not wet at all times. Germination takes 15-28 days. Transplant when large enough to handle to 8cm pots. Gradually acclimatise and plant out after 10-15 days with 45cm spacing. If the seeds do not come up within 5 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. Enclose the pot/tray in a plastic bag to conserve moisture.