The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden Directory

Early meadow rue is early to the party indeed, flowering just as trees are beginning to leaf out in spring. It’s a graceful woodland perennial, with delicate foliage similar to columbine. While its unusual flowers seem to lack petals, they more than make up for it with long stamens or pistils that resemble tassels. It’s dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, so it’s best to plan for several of each in close proximity for optimal pollination. The male stamens are yellowish, while the female pistils are of a light purple hue. This woodland beauty prefers light shade or dappled sunlight and moist, rich soil.