Thalictrum Aquilegifolium Thundercloud
Thalictrum Aquilegifolium Thundercloud in the garden
A double feature today, headed by Thalictrum Thundercloud, after the toss of a coin as to whether the white form Album may head the bill.
Thalictrum Aquilegifolium Thundercloud, a fully hardy perennial in Aberdeen and unlike some of the Aquilegias which it is closely related to, the Thalictrum is very long lived.
Thundercloud has soft fluffy lilac panicles of flowers which are held above the extremely attractive blue/green ferny foliage. In our garden flowering started at the very end of May and continued into the third week of July.
Not only are the blooms and foliage of this plant very attractive
but the seed heads continue to give interest into early Autumn. This plant bulks up nicely, reaching a height of 90cm/3ft. Thundercloud has been in this position in the round garden for five years, no deterioration but neither has it required dividing. Our plant is in a semi shaded position, however it is said to do equally well in full sun. I wouldn’t be without Thalictrum in the garden.
Hardiness — Fully hardy
Position — Sun/part shade
Soil — Humus rich
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This other Thalictrum, Aquilegifolium Album certainly does not play second fiddle to Thundercloud.
Album has been in the east facing border of the back garden for something like ten years. This one actually clumps up even better than Thundercloud and can be safely divided every three years or so,
a position in the main border has been found for one of the divisions.
Flowering period is also from late May till July, but the seed heads on album are even more ornamental with a distinct purplish hue. Depending on how the sunlight catches the plant it can look even better when the flowers go over.. The foliage on album doesn’t have quite such a blue tinge as does Thundercloud.
Well anyway there you have another perennial which can look fabulous in Aberdeen if placed carefully in the correct position.
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This picture below of the back garden was taken on July 24th. It was 9pm and the evening sun was just catching the woodland area at the bottom of the garden, well the garden slopes upwards so I suppose this makes it the top of the garden. After having such very miserable weather this Summer, looking out the kitchen window, I felt it was looking good enough to photograph.
More often than not I post pictures which are the maximum size which can be shown on my blog. 640×480 this way it saves any loss of quality that may occur. However I was rather pleased with this one below, I wanted to keep it nearer the original large size for use on my (Our Garden) page where I think larger pictures are of more benefit.
I will be updating my (Our Garden page) in September removing last years pictures and replacing them with this current years ones. I don’t suppose there will be that much difference, however it gives me something to do and I will probably be a little more pickier. In the meantime, if you care to expand the picture below you may see why I wanted this one left larger.
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This is a picture of the front garden taken a couple of days later..
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Alistair, I love the way your blog is looking these days — just explored some of the pages. I’ve been away from Blotanical for a while, so not sure when you gave it a new look. Your 2012 garden is stunning, and the information in your blog is interesting and informative. Wish I could be so organized. P. x
Welcome back Pam, glad you like the new look of my blog. I am happy as to how it looks on my computer but you can never be sure as to how it is on others who are possibly viewing on a different resolution.
I adore thalictrum and mine decided this year to give me a small clump of foliage and no blooms….drought has really hit so many plants. It is a good thing I have so many veggies to take care of since the flowers are almost gone except for rudbeckias.
I love the larger views of the front and back gardens Alistair. Always so lovely with something in bloom and neatly kept. Your foliage sweeps around the garden just catching the eye at key focal points. It is stunning even if your weather has been less than summery. Mine too summery.
Hi Donna, no chance of anything burning out here in Aberdeen, although today it is a very comfortable 71f, that’s almost a heatwave for us.
I’ve never met a thalictrum I didn’t like, and yours are no exception. I have tall ones and tiny ones but those in-between ones I still need, so pretty. Really all your gardens are looking beyond beautiful.
And I like the new text font too.
I do think you should come clean regarding whatever mystical rituals take place in the center lawn of that awesome round garden, maybe on late summer nights… (Don’t make me ask the neighbors.)
Ah dear Linnie, the round garden! you may speculate upon, however I couldn’t possibly comment other than to say, Tillie may hold the key.
I like the white. I must say that your garden looks magnificent and immaculate, really beautiful. There’s not a blade of grass out of place! Mine’s unruly with plants flopped onto the grass and taller plants drunkenly waving this way and that. I love seeing pictures like this that show gardening styles.
Sunil, I am actually quite fond of the unruly look as well, as long as it is not in my garden.
I’m glad you left that picture larger as it’s a gorgeous pic of your garden and you can see the details better. That’s a nice thalictrum too, I’ve introduced a couple this year and might add the album next year 🙂
Glad you liked it, I think I will now stop reducing the size of the long shots quite so much.
Beautiful gardens – front & back – and the nice sharp, crisp edges of the lawn just set this off wonderfully!
Thank you so much Alistair for showing us the wide angle shot. Even if i appreciate close ups of individual plants, it is always better to see the whole landscape, and you did justice to your garden by doing so. It is really awesome, but you always hear it from me anyway! Now i am confused if i prefer the front or the back, i guess i like both, haha!
Thanks Andrea, how lucky am I having you comment on my blog.
Alistair, your garden looks so amazing, lush, colorful and very well tended. How do you get all your plants to behave so well?
Its really all to do with the climate Masha, nothing burns out here.
Your Thalictrum looks great. I’ve been camping & hiking every weekend in the Cascade Mountains. I’ve seen our native Thalictrum occidentale blooming lately. But I must say that it is not something I’d want in my garden. It’s much to plain. We had temperatures as high as 32C over the weekend, although I slipped & fell in the snow on Mt Pilchuck on Saturday. Thanks for your comment.
You lead an adventurous life Jordan
I was very glad you left the photo clickable to a larger size. It is a beautiful view of your garden and so much nicer to see it large. The top image is a nice corner of your garden too with pretty combinations.
Thanks Donna, I felt that picture was worth keeping to the larger size, my son in law keeps telling me that I am slowing down the time that my site takes to open with so many pictures, especially large ones.
Oh, my! Thank you so much for the larger views of your garden! They are stunning and give me a great appreciation of your skills as a gardener. I love the thalictrum, but it is another one of those lovelies that don’t like my hot, humid summers. I am a wee bit jealous!
Debs, over the years Myra has been every bit as much responsible for how the garden looks as much as myself. These days due to her chronic back trouble I do most of the stuff, its not really work though when you enjoy a hobby like this as much as I do.
Hi AListair, that is a glorious photo of your garden, and well worth having available at the larger size. You have a wonderful array of lush and healthy plants, they make a great tapestry of contrasting colours and textures in foliage alone.
I’ve been wondering about Thalictrum for a while now, whether I add one is now down to how much I feel I can expand the borders in the back garden without negaitvely impacting space for the kitchen garden.
Janet, nice and easy does it with a garden which is new to yourselves.
Absolutely stunning Alistair! The Aquilegifolium Album looks really beautiful in your garden! I think I need to move my Aquilegia – they never look as good as yours – maybe its in the wrong place?
Hi Christine, the Thalictrums although in the same family do look quite different from the Aquilegias.
What a fabulous plant with such an impressive bloom time! I do wonder if it would bloom quite as long here in my very hot zone 7b garden! I’m not sure if I like the purple one or the white one better.
Your garden is absolutely gorgeous!
Indie, many plants flower for unusually long periods here because of the cool weather.
Hi Alistair, Your Thalictrum are beautiful and bulkier than mine, which are a little younger in age. I even find the seed heads on these plants are attractive after they are done flowering. I have several purple ones, but don’t have the white. A white one is definitely going high on my list of plants for next year.
Your garden is so neat and orderly in comparison with my jungle. Your overall shots are really nicely done and could easily be in a magazine. I was looking again at your flowerpots raised on the decorative columns. I have a few old columns out back…I think I might have to steal this idea.
Hi Jennifer, I am fond of our large terracotta pots on those old stands which once served a different purpose.
Your garden is stunning! Really beautiful.
Your garden is looking lovely.
And yet another plant for my wish list. I tried to grow Thalictrum many years ago. Time to give it another go I think.
Hi Alastair, I too love your new look blog – I love the cool green and the layout. Your photos of thalictrum made me think about how I love fluffy plants, and how I dislike spiky prickly ones. Your garden looks amazing. cheers to you and Myra, cat.
Thanks cat, still not sorted out with blotanical
Thalictrum looks beautiful. And my gosh! Was that your garden? It so gorgeous and magical! I felt like it was the mini Garden of Eden when I saw it.
Haven’t knowingly come across Thalictrum before.
The photos of your garden breath hard work, care and attention.
Hard works fine if you enjoy it Esther.
I’ve never seen that plant before, the fluffiness is irresistable. I see you’re still working your magic on those lawns.
Hi b-a-g, I have got myself a new lawnmower and the lawn is looking better than ever.