Maid-of-the-mist is a rare meadow-rue that is uncommon throughout its range. Although it is listed as G4-apparently secure, in PA it is considered endangered/critically imperiled. According to this document by PNHP, it is sensitive to disturbance and requires rich mesic soil. What that means is this is not the plant for a newly established bed in full sun. I have planted out several seedlings in my woodland area, and I will update this post based on my experiences growing it. Make sure you amend your site with plenty of organic matter, and opt for part sun to dappled light shade.
Thalictrums, for the most part, are dioecious plants, meaning that a plant may be male or female. I have no way of knowing which is which until they reach blooming size (likely next year if it’s like other Thalictrums I’ve grown). They are also wind-pollinated plants. If you want any chance of obtaining seed, you’d want to plant several next to one another. That being said, I have seen insects visiting the male flowers on other species. Hoverflies in particular seemed attracted to the pollen, even fighting one another over it. It’s quite entertaining to watch, because they look like bumper-copters when they try to bump one another away from the flowers.
Maid-of-the-mist in particular is quite attractive. Unlike other Thalictrum species, which have flowers that range from white to cream-colored, this species has pinkish-purple to maroon flower parts. The thick leaves are also reported to be less susceptible to leaf-miner damage, although it’s not something that ever bothered me.
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