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Will thalictrum tolerate a lot of shade?

WhereAreMySecateursWhereAreMySecateurs Posts: 261
in Plants
Have a Black Stockings here and am contemplating putting it somewhere where it would get 2 hours' sun tops. The Beth Chatto site includes some thalictra as shade plants but thought I'd check here :)

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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 8,546
    edited 8 April
    Yes - so long as they can get their heads in the light.
    I have quite a few T. delavayi, many of which have self seeded.
    I have a couple behind a multi-stemmed acer - they grow up through the foliage and last year the flowers were a good 8ft - appearing over the top of the acer, which looked unusual.
    I have several more that have self seeded just in front of a fence on an east-facing border - in front of them are various shrubs and perennials 4-6ft high, again they push themselves up through all the other foliage and the flowers were at about 7ft.
    Those that are in just light shade, get to between 5-6ft

    I also have Black Stockings and they are fine in quite deep shade too - I have several around a big old coral conifer and they've been happy there for 20ish years
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • WhereAreMySecateursWhereAreMySecateurs Posts: 261
    Many thanks, Pete!
  • FireFire LondonPosts: 14,095
    Are they creatures of the damp? I have some  partial shady dry beds and wonder how well they will do...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Sheffield, Derbyshire border.Posts: 11,312
    They prefer damper soil.
    He calls her the chocolate girl
    Cause he thinks she melts when he touches her
    She knows she's the chocolate girl
    Cause she's broken up and swallowed
    And wrapped in bits of silver
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 8,546
    They certainly prefer damper soil, but my original T. delavayi has been happy in partial shade on dry clay for many years, and their children seem happy there too. I do give them a mulch each spring.
    They get to about 4-5ft, others on damper soil get taller
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire LondonPosts: 14,095
    thanks
  • FairygirlFairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 46,325
    Damper soil is certainly their preference @WhereAreMySecateurs , but once established, they seem to cope well enough. If you get seedlings, as @Pete.8 describes, they're already adapting, so it's different to one that's been grown in isolation,  and planted out. I had a purpley one in a previous garden, and it was in quite a sunny spot, and with a fair bit of competition, but the rainfall meant it didn't dry out, and it was more than happy there. They're nice if the spot is right for them. 
    I forgot I had one here as it got crowded out with other plants. Hopeless mare!  :D
    It's in a pot just now and will go out in a better site once it's recovered a bit more. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze South NottsPosts: 1,190
    I have grown T Elin in the passed after a few years it gave up. However it is a superb form, good in the winter as well.  Named after Piet Ouldolf 's wife I think?
  • JennyJJennyJ DoncasterPosts: 6,122
    T. Elin and T. flavum glaucum do well here in partial shade and well-drained sandy soil, in fact flavum self-seeds quite freely. T. deylavayi died out after it's first year though.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 SomersetPosts: 9,266
    Oh, that's odd, although we have clay soil, my thalictrums are all in my south facing sunny front garden. They seem happy so far planted around a big Stipa Gigantica. I love the contrast between the stipa's golden seed heads and the tiny purple thalictrum flowers, especially when the western sun shines through both - magical!
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