Thalictrum actaeifolium

Thalictrum actaeifolium is a perennial in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Its common name is Actaea-leaved meadow rue. It comes from Korea and south-central and southern Japan. Japanese records include Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. It grows in woods on hills and mountains there. This woodland plant belongs to the temperate flora of Asia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant forms a clump and sheds its leaves each year. Its lobed leaves show bronze and purple tones in spring. Upright flower stems reach about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres]. Garden plants reach 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall and wide. They take two to five years to reach full size. The young leaf colour adds interest before the summer flowers. Its clump form suits beds with other perennial plants.

Small flowers gather in heads above the leaves in summer. Each bloom measures about 0.03 feet [0.01 metres] across. Lavender to white stamens give the flowers their soft look. The RHS lists this species for use as cut flowers. It also suits cottage gardens and informal flower beds. Woodland edges and places with dappled shade offer other planting sites. These settings reflect its native habitat in Japanese woods.

Choose moist soil rich in humus and a partly shaded spot. It can grow in sun where soil stays moist enough. The RHS lists chalk, clay, and loam as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Both drained and poorly drained moist soils suit it. Its RHS hardiness rating is H6. This covers winter lows of about −20 to −15°C. The RHS classes it as hardy across Britain and northern Europe.

Grow new plants from seed or divide an established clump. Cut old flower stems back in late autumn. Spring is another option, before fresh growth begins. The RHS includes it among plants for low-maintenance gardens. Slugs may attack it, and dry conditions can encourage powdery mildew. PFAF reports no weed potential for this species. It records cooked young leaves as a minor food use. However, it urges caution because the family includes poisonous plants. It reports no confirmed toxicity records for this species. That lack of records does not establish that eating it is safe. PFAF lists no known medicinal or other uses.