This is a group of plants that can make a great contribution to the garden, but is relatively unknown. They are five to eight feet tall and the eight foot plants tower above the rest of the garden. The airy foliage on the plants enables you to see other blooms. For this reason you may plant the Thalictrum in the centre of a bed instead of having to place it in the back of the border.

I believe the Thalictrum I grow are aquilegifolium because their foliage resembles the columbine's. When they first come up in the spring I cannot be sure if they are columbines or Thalictrum. I have interchanged seedlings when planting out and it is a surprise when the aquilegia grows eight feet high.

The shortest has branches and leaves about two and a half feet tall topped with a foot and a half of double rosy pink plumes. It resembles a mauvey pink mist on the top of the stalks. These probably do not need to be staked. The yellows resemble the previous but are about one foot taller. This is best if it is given some support.

They all have attractive seed heads after blooming. The doubles replace the blooms with massive seed heads which slowly mature from green to brown shades. They do drop seeds and reseed but it is not a problem.

The single lavender pink with yellow stamens showing prominently grows to about seven or eight feet. It is most attractive of all. It probably doesn't need staking but I cannot stand it being blown around in the wind so I stake it. All of these Thalictrum I grew from seeds given to me by friends so I do not know their names.

These plants will grow in the sun but prefer partial shade. They like a rich soil with lots of humus, that is kept moist and this is particularly true if they are planted in the sun. A mulch of well rotted manure, leaf mold or compost will help keep the roots moist. This is important the first year or two after you plant them. The plants develop taproots and are not easy to move so select your site carefully. Be protective the first year but after this they are hardy. They need a well drained area or the plant may have problems surviving the winter.

They start to bloom about early July. The mauvey pink blooms are first, next the yellow and last of all the singles. They seem to hold the flowers for at least two weeks and then seed pods start forming. Their natural habitats are the edge of a woods or water so they could look especially suitable in the landscaping around your water garden. Last spring several outlets in the Kingston area were selling spring plants had a variety of Thalictrum available for your garden.