Product Description
Thalictrum 'Cotton Candy' PPAF CPBRAF - Proven Winners®(20)ct Flat
Common Name: Meadow Rue
Find fine texture for your garden with this elegant Meadow Rue. This upright selection creates a dense pillar of foliage before being topped with wispy lavender flowers in late spring. Compared with the typical leggy varieties of T. aquilegifolium, 'Cotton Candy' is well balanced with flowers sitting just above the foliage. The columnar habit is perfect for adding height to small spaces. The tall stems and long-lasting flowers make this selection excellent as a cut flower. Best in average, well-drained soils. Does well in full sun but prefers dappled shade. Meadow Rue are not commonly bothered by browsing deer and rabbits.
Height: 38.0-42.0 Inches
Spread: 18.0-24.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 5,6,7,8
Flower Color: Purple shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) - Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Average Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early Summer - Midsummer
Attracts Butterflies
Bee Friendly
Deer and Rabbit Resistant
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Cut Flower, Easy To Grow
Thalictrum 'Cotton Candy' is a delightful and airy perennial that brings a touch of whimsy and delicate beauty to the garden. It is a cultivar of Meadow Rue, known for its cloud-like flowers and fine-textured foliage. Here is a closer look at what makes 'Cotton Candy' special, along with essential information for successful cultivation:
What Makes 'Cotton Candy' Special:
- Fluffy Lavender-Pink Flowers: 'Cotton Candy' produces airy clusters of fluffy, lavender-pink flowers that resemble cotton candy. The delicate blooms float above the foliage, creating a dreamy and ethereal effect.
- Upright and Columnar Habit: It has a strong, upright habit, forming a dense column of foliage that adds vertical interest to the garden. It typically reaches 3 to 3.5 feet tall and 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
- Fine-Textured Foliage: The foliage is delicate and fine-textured, composed of small, blue-green leaflets that create a soft and airy backdrop for the flowers.
- Long Blooming Period: It blooms for an extended period in early summer, providing weeks of delicate color and texture.
- Attractive to Pollinators: The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, making it a valuable addition to any pollinator garden.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant: It is generally unpalatable to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for gardens where these animals are a problem.
- Easy Care: Thalictrum is generally low-maintenance and easy to care for, requiring minimal attention once established.
Description:
- Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: 5-8
- Height & Spread: 3-3.5 feet tall and 1.5-2 feet wide
- Bloom Time: Early summer
- Flower Color: Lavender-pink
- Foliage: Fine-textured, blue-green
Native Habitat:
- Thalictrum is a genus of about 100-200 species of herbaceous perennials that are widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. 'Cotton Candy' is a cultivated variety.
Landscaping Design Tips:
- Borders: Its vertical growth habit makes it a great addition to the middle or back of borders, adding height and visual interest.
- Cottage Gardens: The airy flowers and delicate foliage blend beautifully in cottage-style gardens.
- Woodland Gardens: It thrives in partial shade, making it a good choice for woodland gardens.
- Meadow Gardens: It adds a touch of whimsy and delicate color to meadow gardens.
- Cut Flower Gardens: The long-lasting blooms make excellent cut flowers for arrangements.
- Companion Planting: Combine it with other perennials that complement its lavender-pink flowers and bloom time, such as purple coneflowers (Echinacea), catmint (Nepeta), or ornamental grasses.
Planting and Care:
- Planting:
- Plant in spring or fall.
- Choose a location with full sun to partial shade (it prefers some afternoon shade, especially in hot climates).
- Prefers well-drained soil.
- Space plants about 3 feet apart.
- Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball.
- Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the crown is level with the ground.
- Fill the hole with soil and firm gently.
- Water thoroughly after planting.
- Care:
- Water regularly, especially during dry periods.
- Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer.
- Deadhead spent flower stalks to encourage continuous blooming.
- Divide clumps every few years to maintain vigor.
With its airy flowers, fine-textured foliage, and easy-care nature, Thalictrum 'Cotton Candy' is a delightful addition to any garden. By following these planting and care tips, you can enjoy its beauty and attract pollinators to your yard for years to come.
Approximate Plug Measurements: 3.25 inches deep x 2.6 inches wide.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
