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Planting in threes

LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,565
in Garden design
To integrate three Thalictrum Black Stockings into my planting, I'm considering three options - spread out so they draw the eye around,  or in groups of three to the left (part shade) or right (sun) for more solid clumps. Im erring towards the first option but what do you think? (The option one spacing allows for other plants which are already in place).


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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,998
    Thalictrum grow into quite substantial plants. I think in a garden that size planting them singly will be fine .,, a group of three could be the size of a large shrub in a couple of years. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,490
    I mostly plant in threes or even fives, but have gone a bit dotty this year, especially with taller plants which can look a little dominant in a group. I also like the occasional tall plant near the front to add a bit of dynamism to the traditional small at the front etc. For those reasons I say go dotty and choose option one!

    Looks a lovely plant btw.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • lister_lizardlister_lizard Posts: 21
    I prefer option 1
  • FireFire Posts: 18,146
    I've gone for a group of three thals this year.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,857
    I planted a group of 3 thalictrum delavayii years ago in my Belgian garden and they grew 2 or 3 times taller than expected (mislabelled?) and very imposing so, as your borders are narrower, I would go for the option of separating and having a rhythm of thalictrum down the garden.

    This is mine in the second year


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,000
    Hells bells Obelixx, that's a monster! Mine aren't that big - at least, not yet.

    I'd go for option 1 as well.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,565
    edited April 2021
    That looks like Thalictrum 'Elin', Obelixx. Yes it's a monster. I had one once, eventually gave it to my sister. I did also have some T. delavayi but also offloaded those. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,857
    It might just be some juju I have @Loxley tho, like you, I decided it was probably Elin.

    I've planted one here - aquilegifolia this time - and it's done the same thing, growing very tall but I love it anyway.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FireFire Posts: 18,146
    "I did also have some T. delavayi but also offloaded those.  "

    Can I ask how they were for you @Loxley ?
    I am just putting in three now for the first time. They have been on my wish list for years.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,565
    They were very good. I grew them from seed! The only problem with them was they tend to get pushed over by the wind, plant them where they can 'lean' on other plants if you can.
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