Meadowrue is a herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family native from Europe to central Asia. Also known as Columbine Meadowrue due to its leaves which resemble the genus Aquilegia (columbine) and this plant is often confused with Columbine or the Adiantum genus (Maidenhair Fern). Can be easily grown from seed. Meadowrue grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade but prefers a rich, highly organic soil and dappled sun in the afternoon. It is intolerant of the hot and humid summers of the deep South and would do well in areas of shade in the afternoon during the hot summer months. The flowers give way to ornamental clusters of wing-like seeds, lengthening the season of interest for this plant. Sow seed in soil in the fall when they are fresh. Divide the plants as new growth appears in spring. They are deer and rabbit resistant. Grow in a meadow or naturalized area. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Open
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Features a basal clump of lacy, fine-textured, compound, bluish-green foliage (resembling columbine or maidenhair fern)
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
6-8 in. of pink powder puff-like flowers in panicles. There are separate male and female plants. The male flowers are much more showy than the female variety. Male flowers are purple, which comes from the profusely purple stamen.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit detail
Ornamental clusters of wing-like seeds
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Central Asia
Attracts
Butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Uses (ethnobotany)
Late spring flowers, put in large pots surrounded by smaller border plantings