Product Description
Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball' PPAF CPBRAF - Proven Winners® (20)ct Flat
Common Name: Meadow Rue
Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball' from the Proven Winners® series is an exquisite cultivar of Meadow Rue, offering a sophisticated and airy elegance to the garden. It is a striking companion to the popular 'Cotton Candy', sharing its desirable attributes of impressive height and delicate texture, but distinguishing itself with a profusion of clear white, fluffy flowers. 'Cotton Ball' forms a dense, upright pillar of finely textured, fern-like foliage, topped with wispy sprays of cloud-like white blooms. The dark, contrasting stems add an extra layer of visual interest, providing a subtle yet impactful foundation for the ethereal flowers. This selection is particularly adept at adding significant height to narrow garden spaces without overwhelming them. Its tall stems and long-lasting flowers also make it an exceptional choice for cut flower arrangements.
- Height: Reaches an impressive height of 38 to 42 inches, adding vertical drama to the landscape.
- Spread: Maintains a relatively narrow spread of 18 to 24 inches, ideal for compact spaces.
- Flowers: The flowers are pure white, numerous, and borne in airy, cloud-like sprays that resemble delicate cotton balls. Each flower is composed of numerous stamens, giving it a fluffy appearance.
- Foliage: The foliage is a soft green, finely dissected, and fern-like, providing a delicate texture that contrasts beautifully with the strong vertical stems.
- Stems: Characterized by dark, upright stems that offer excellent contrast against the light green foliage and white flowers.
- Flower Color: Pristine white shades, providing a luminous quality to the garden.
- Foliage Color: Soft green shades, creating a delicate, airy texture.
- Bloom Time: Blooms from early summer through midsummer, offering a sustained period of floral interest.
- Growth Rate: Medium, establishing a good presence within a season or two.
- Attracts Wings: Attracts butterflies and is bee-friendly, contributing to pollinator gardens.
- Critter Resistant: Not commonly bothered by Browse deer and rabbits, making it a reliable choice in areas with wildlife pressure.
- Seasonal Interest: Provides significant visual interest during its bloom period, and its finely textured foliage adds grace throughout the growing season.
- Cut Flower: An excellent cut flower with tall stems and long-lasting blooms, perfect for both fresh and dried arrangements.
Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball' (PPAF CPBRAF) is a well-regarded Proven Winners® introduction, noted for its robust constitution and abundant, pristine white blooms. Its columnar habit makes it a valuable plant for adding height and texture without requiring a large footprint. The contrast between its dark stems, delicate foliage, and airy white flowers creates a sophisticated and refined aesthetic in the garden.
While 'Cotton Ball' is a cultivated variety, Thalictrum species are widely distributed across the northern hemisphere, found in various temperate regions including North America, Europe, and Asia. They typically thrive in moist, well-drained soils in woodlands, meadows, and along stream banks, often preferring dappled shade conditions.
Landscaping Design Tips
Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball' offers unique qualities that make it highly versatile in landscape design:
- Border Plant: Its tall, slender habit makes it an excellent choice for the middle or back of a perennial border, adding significant vertical interest and a cloud-like texture.
- Adding Height to Narrow Spaces: This is one of its standout features. Its upright, columnar form allows it to introduce impressive height into confined areas where broader plants would be unsuitable.
- Cottage Gardens: Its delicate, airy appearance and abundant blooms fit perfectly into the romantic and informal aesthetic of cottage gardens.
- Eclectic Gardens: Provides a sophisticated, architectural element with its strong vertical lines and contrasting textures, making it suitable for modern and eclectic designs.
- Prairie Gardens: While some Thalictrum species are found in prairies, 'Cotton Ball' may be best utilized in the wetter, more shaded edges of a prairie garden, or in designs that blend prairie elements with woodland characteristics.
- Cut Flower Garden: Plant specifically for its outstanding cut flowers. Its tall, sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms are ideal for creating elegant floral arrangements.
- Mass Planting: While not typically used in broad masses like some groundcovers, planting in small groups or clusters can amplify its ethereal effect and create a striking visual impact.
- Woodland Edges: Thrives in dappled shade, making it a good choice for the edges of woodland gardens or under the canopy of deciduous trees.
Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball' is hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8. This indicates its ability to withstand a range of winter temperatures, performing well in mild to moderately cold climates.
Planting and Cultivation
- Sunlight: Performs best in average, well-drained soils. While it can tolerate full sun, it prefers dappled shade, especially in hotter climates, where it will maintain lusher foliage and more vibrant blooms. In full sun, ensure consistent moisture to prevent wilting.
- Water Requirements: Has average water needs. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, particularly during dry spells and the establishment period.
- Soil Quality: Thrives in average to fertile soil quality. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
- Soil Chemistry: Tolerant of both acidic and neutral soil pH.
- Planting: Plant in well-drained soil, ensuring the crown is at soil level. Space plants 18-24 inches apart to allow for mature spread and good air circulation.
- Fertilization: A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can promote vigorous growth and blooming.
- Maintenance: 'Cotton Ball' is relatively easy to grow.
- Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to maintain a tidy appearance, though this may not significantly extend the bloom period. In late fall or early spring, the old foliage can be cut back to the ground level to make way for new growth.
- Pests and Diseases: Generally robust and not commonly bothered by significant pest or disease issues. Its deer and rabbit resistance is a notable advantage.
Approximate Plug Measurements: 3.25 inches deep x 2.6 inches wide.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
