# Meadow Rue (*Thalictrum dasycarpum*)

Meadow Rue has soft, feathery leaves and pretty little flowers that hang like tiny bells. It loves to grow in wet meadows and fields!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** Wet meadows and fields
- **Also known as:** Dasycarp Meadow Rue, Tall Meadow Rue

![Meadow Rue](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426771/objects/4960.jpg)

## Appearance

The Meadow Rue has delicate, fern-like green leaves on often purplish stems. Its small, airy flowers lack true petals, instead displaying fluffy clusters of stamens that can be creamy white, yellow, or pale purple, creating a misty appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ranunculales
- **Family:** Ranunculaceae
- **Genus:** Thalictrum

## Interesting facts

- Instead of colorful petals, its flowers are fluffy clouds of stamens!
- Its wispy leaves look just like tiny maidenhair ferns!
- Many Meadow Rue species can grow taller than a grown-up!
- Some types of Meadow Rue have separate 'boy' and 'girl' plants!

## Special abilities

- **Wind Weaver:** Meadow Rue has feathery stigmas and dangling stamens that let the wind carry and catch its pollen, helping it reproduce without many insects.
- **Chemical Shield:** Meadow Rue can produce special chemicals called alkaloids that make it taste bad to most hungry animals, helping it defend itself.
- **Deep Drinker:** Meadow Rue has a strong root system that helps it find water deep underground, allowing it to survive drier periods.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-250 cm
- **Spread:** 60-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.8 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Late Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar, aiding plant reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects pollen and nectar from flowers.
- **Depends on:** Slender Wave Moth (*Eulithis gracilineata*) — Larvae feed on Meadow Rue foliage.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Meadow Rue?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Meadow Rue?

100-250 cm

### How wide does Meadow Rue spread?

60-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Meadow Rue?

0.3-0.8 cm

### When does Meadow Rue bloom?

Late Spring to Late Summer

### Is Meadow Rue edible?

No

### Is Meadow Rue toxic?

Mild

### What is Meadow Rue's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Minnesota Landscape Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-landscape-arboretum) — Minnesota, US · Botanical Garden
- [International Peace Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-peace-garden) — US · Botanical Garden
- [J. Edward Roush Lake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/j-edward-roush-lake) — Indiana, US · Natural Landmark

[View all places to see Meadow Rue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/meadow-rue)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Meadow Rue: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-rue)