2020 May Featured Plant Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) STATEWIDE Family: Buttercup WETLAND (Ranunculus) INDICATOR STATUS: FACU DESCRIPTION: Typically found in deciduous forests, this perennial ID: Basal leaves of this spring ephemeral provides 4- to 8-inch- pollen to a wide range of native tall spring bees and flies from April to early ephemeral June, and adds spring interest to have woodland gardens. distinctive, three-lobed USES: An attractive groundcover leaflets. Five for shade gardens, rue anemone to 10 white can grow under trees including to dark pink oaks, maples, basswoods, birch petal-like and poplar. Its delicate flowers sepals appear offer pollen — but not nectar from April References Photo Credit: Prairie Moon Nursery through early — to native flies and several June. Flora of North America: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233501276 kinds of bees (including honey, Illinois Wildflowers: https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/rue_anemone.htm carpenter, cuckoo, mason, Planting Recommendations SIMILAR Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=THTH2 SPECIES: sweat and mining bees). It Rue anemone grows best in Plants usually take a few years Minnesota Wildflowers: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/rue-anemone Woodland goes dormant during summer dappled shade and dry to to flower after seeding. In early USDA Plants Database: https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=THTH2 heat. All fresh parts of the plant Meadow rue moderately moist, humus- spring or late fall, rue anemone (Thalictrum are considered poisonous. rich soils. It is often helpful to plants can be propagated by dioicum) Historically, infusions made from amend soils with leaf compost division. If plants will be divided grows up to its roots treated diarrhea and when planting. A good choice in the fall, it’s best to flag them 30 inches vomiting. for woodland gardens and in in late spring so they’re more tall. Wood anemone's plantings under deciduous trees, easily found after the plants go REFERENCES: (Anemone Flora of North America it also can be grown in shady rock dormant. Divided plants take quinquefolia) Illinois Wildflowers gardens. Plants are available in a few years to build sufficient leaflets are Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center containers or as bare-root tubers roots before they can be divided coarsely Minnesota Wildflowers from native plant nurseries. again. It is important to water toothed with USDA Plants Database Seeds can be dormant-seeded plants after they are divided. Rue fine hairs. in October or November, or they anemone is no longer common; False rue anemone’s can be cold-and-moist stratified avoid disturbing plants found in (Enemion for three months in a refrigerator. natural habitats. biternatum) leaflets are Developed by Lorinda Balfanz more deeply lobed; its As horticulturalist at the Minnesota Governor's Residence, flowers have she has implemented sustainable practices benefiting soil only five health and pollinators. sepals. Range Map Credit: NRCS Plants Database Balfanz www.bwsr.state.mn.us 1.