Thalictrum aquilegifolium

Little clouds of lavender float on delicate four foot stems. This meadow rue grows through the deep purple foliage of my Diablo nine-bark shrub, which sets the tiny puffs of flowers off beautifully and also helps keep them from flopping.

A good butterfly plant, it has produced a couple of off-spring in the 10 years it has been in this location. Though known for sowing itself around, I think, here, the slugs pick off the young seedlings. The species name denotes the very close resemblance of the blue-grey leaves to the shape of Columbine (Aquilegia) leaves.