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One of the most spectacular species for the border. The pale lilac flowers hang in clouds over the clumps of shivering leaves. I was sent a root by Chen Yi from China. Writing in The Plantsman in 2006, Dan Hinkley says: "Of the larger-flowered species, however, it is probably T. delavayi that has garnered full market share. It is a diverse and complicated taxon with a wide distribution and numerous botanical varieties. Thalictrum delavayi as seen in gardens is late to blossom and superb in the August border. Tall and elegant columns of medium textured, somewhat steely blue foliage, are topped by generous quantities of moserate-sized, yellow centred flowers. Examining any moderate elevation meadow in western China in the autumn (how illuminative it would be to see these same locales in flowering season) brings one into the realm of the complications of this species. Side by side specimens exhibit exasperating variability in regard to height, size and carriage of the achenes, and quantity of spent flowers. Botanista have delineated numerous varieties, but it could prove to be nearly impossible to sort these out when confronted with mixed collections of wild-sourced seed." |
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| 13th December 2006 | ||
