Akeleiblättrige meadow rue, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium: care

The flowers of the columbine-leaved meadow rue appear light and almost graceful. Except for the similarity of the leaves, this plant has nothing in common with the Columbine. Also called Amstelraute, it is actually a perennial wild plant, which has now also made it into domestic gardens as an ornamental plant. There it is a popular perennial in the bed thanks to its delicate flowers, which are also suitable for less sunny areas and an important fodder plant for insects. It is easy to care for and once planted it will delight its owner for years with its delicate flowers. In addition, it is not only of great visual value, but is also an important fodder plant for insects such as the owl butterfly. The meadow rue, on the other hand, is becoming less and less common in nature. In some regions of the low mountain range, where its natural distribution areas are, it is already so rare that it is considered a plant in need of care.

sorts

There are numerous types of meadow rue, which are mainly native to temperate regions. However, not all meadow rues are hardy like the native Thalictrum aquilegiifolium. Since the Akeleiblättrige meadow rue was only recently discovered as a perennial for gardens, there are so far only a few varieties.

In addition to Thalictrum aquilegiifolium as a cultivated wild form, there is a variety "Album" that has pure white inflorescences including stamens, which are often mistakenly regarded as flowers. The Amstelraute's flower is rather inconspicuous and dwarfed by the stamens.

Location

Before the rue is planted, a suitable location should be found for it. She doesn't like direct sun, but can withstand a few hours of sunshine. Partially shaded locations with a slightly higher level of humidity are ideal. Locations on the east or west sides of buildings or as part of herbaceous borders, where they are protected from direct sun by higher plants in the area, are ideal.

The soil where the meadow rue is planted should, if possible, be modeled on its natural location. Optimal soil conditions for the Akeleiblättrige meadow rue are:

• sandy to loamy
• high humus or Nutritional content
• very calcareous

Due to its location in lime-rich mountains in particular, it can only develop well in soils that also have a high lime content. Regular liming at least twice a season is therefore essential.

plants

A plant needs about 40 - 50 cm of space on average. Due to its height, however, it always needs a support such as plant sticks, otherwise heavy rain or a storm can cause the inflorescences to break.

Tip: When planting in groups, three perennials per square meter are ideal. This gives the plants enough space to develop well and does not compete with one another for space or Nutrient.

Instructions for planting the Amstelraute:

• Dig a planting hole at least twice the size of the root ball
• If necessary, make the soil more permeable with sand
• Take the perennial out of the pot and loosen the root ball
• Fill the planting hole with a mixture of compost and sand
• Do not press the floor down too hard

In the first three weeks until the perennial is rooted, care must be taken that the soil does not dry out. After the perennials are rooted, it is also advisable to work some lime into the soil.

to water

If a suitable location is chosen, watering can be largely dispensed with. Regular watering is only essential during longer dry periods so that the soil around the plant is constantly moist. However, waterlogging must not form.

Fertilize

Similar to watering, the columbine-leaved meadow rue is easy to care for when fertilizing. It is ideal to incorporate compost twice a year. However, at least 1-2 liters of rich and well-ripened compost should be incorporated per square meter. When adding compost, it is also advisable to mix in lime.

Tip: During the flowering period, nettle manure or another liquid fertilizer can also be poured once a week. This promotes strong growth and ensures a long and constant flowering time.

Cut

Immediately after flowering, the bloomed inflorescences of the meadow rue are cut back. If seeds were to develop, this would cost the plant a lot of strength, but there is nothing to be said against to leave a few inflorescences for seed production if the intention is to multiply will.

In late autumn, the leaves also move in. They should not be cut when they are green. However, after they die, they can be removed without any problem.

Note: The elegant flowers are also very suitable as cut flowers, but they do not get along well with other plants in the vase. The flowers should be cut by late morning and immediately placed in the vase of fresh water.

Multiply

Thalictrum aquilegiifolium can be propagated either by seeds or by division. The division is not only ideal for reproduction, but also promotes plant health. The perennial should therefore be rejuvenated by dividing every three to five years.

Instructions for division

• carefully dug up plants in spring
• Prick two planting forks in the middle of the perennial with their backs facing each other
• Carefully press the plant forks apart
• In the case of overgrown plants, separate the roots with a knife

The divided plants are then transplanted back to their locations.

Propagation via seeds would also be possible, but there is a risk that the flower will not later have the same flower color as the mother plant.

Instructions for sowing

• Direct sowing possible in frost-free spring
• Sow in nutrient-rich and sandy soils
• Scatter seeds
• Then press the seeds on
• keep constantly moist during the germination phase (around 3 weeks)

As soon as the seedlings have formed 3-4 leaves, they can be separated. Again, in order for them to develop compact roots, they should be planted directly in the ground and not in pots.

Overwinter

Since the Akeleiblättrige meadow rue is hardy, it requires little care during the cold season. Only young plants should be protected in the first 1-2 years so that they can develop into compact plants. Covering with brushwood in late autumn is ideal.

In addition, both young plants and older perennials can be covered with leaves as winter protection. The foliage not only provides protection from very low temperatures, but also provides an additional source of nutrients when composting.

Diseases and pests

Since the meadow rue, like almost all species within the buttercup family, is slightly poisonous, even aphids do not go on the perennial.

The Akeleiblättrige meadow rue is more susceptible to some plant diseases, especially when cultivated. These primarily include various fungal diseases such as rust fungus or powdery mildew. However, the plant is only susceptible to fungal diseases if it is improperly cared for or if the perennials are planted too densely or if they are too densely planted. not be shared.

If a fungal infestation occurs on the plant, however, it can usually be easily combated with home remedies. Instructions for combating fungal diseases in Thalictrum aquilegiifolium:

• remove parts of the plant in the event of large-scale infestation
• Do not compost plant parts, but dispose of them
• Then spray the remaining parts of the plant with a 1: 1 mixture of milk and water
• Spray the underside of the leaves as well
• Repeat 2-3 times within a month

Fungal infestation can also be a problem if the weather is warm and humid, especially in June and July. In such phases, greater attention should be paid to signs of illness.