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A short growing species from the Pyrennees. Only occasionally seen in cultivation but it is a beautiful and easy species. It was given an Award of Merit when shown by Kew at the Chelsea Flower Show. In the write-up in the Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society in 1996, Tony Hall says: "Having seen some wretched, depauperate specimens of this well-known but variable thalictrum for sale at RHS shows, I was not unduly surprised by the reception afforded our fine form at Chelsea in 1996. A plant of rocky, open areas in eastern Spain and the Pyrenees, this species sports (as its name indicates) a tuberous rootstock. Its delicate, glaucous foliage is mostly basal and tri-pinnate, attractively grey-green, with the leaflets toothed or lobed. Some of our stocks flower at only 16cm in height, others at twice that and (like the award plant) it can reach 45cm in full flight. Kew's collection was made by the brother ansd sister team of Stephanie and James Joseph (J & J 319) on a field-trip to the Spanish Pyrenees in 1985. The flowers are large, ivory-white saucers, 3cm to over 4cm across, with green carpels surrounded by a conspicuous boss of pale creamy-yellow anthers; the five petals are rounded and up to 15mm wide. Although the slender erect stems have few side branches, main stalks will carry up to 15 flowers and the petals are relatively persistent for a Thalictrum, so this can be a very showy species. But miserable, anorexic-looking waifs with small, dirty-white flowers have been doing the rounds. My advice is: look before you buy. Thalictrum tuberosum is hardy and not too fussy. We have grown is successfullyn in a hot, dry raised bed outside, as well as in pots where it enjoiys a gritty but reasonably moisture-retentive compost and light summer shading. It is never bone-dry (even when dormant) and is certainly a thirsty blighter whilst in leaf. Worthwhile clones may be divided, carefully, in early autumn but fresh seed, sown and placed outside, will produce decent youngsters within 18 to 24 months. At Kew, seed raised stocks, although variable in height, retain the beautiful flower-characteristics of the original collection." |
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| 6th June 2017 | ||
