Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball'
Thalictrum 'Cotton Ball' is an airy elegant perennial featuring soft spherical white flower clusters that appear to float above delicate blue green foliage in early to midsummer. Its light texture and upright form bring movement and a refined presence to shaded borders and woodland plantings.
Height & Spread: 36 - 48 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Early to midsummer
Light Requirements: Part shade
Soil Preference: Moist rich well drained soil
Watering Needs: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from species native to parts of Asia and is not native to North America but is valued for its ornamental qualities and graceful structure in garden settings.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Attracts native bees and bumblebees which visit the airy flower clusters for pollen.
Butterflies
- Occasionally visited by small butterflies seeking nectar during its bloom period.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to allow upright stems to develop freely without crowding.
Landscape Placement
- Best suited for shaded borders, woodland gardens, and the back of perennial beds where its height and airy blooms can rise above lower plantings.
Companion Plants
- Actaea simplex 'Brunette' (Bugbane) - Provides dark foliage and late season flowers that contrast beautifully with the airy white blooms.
- Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) - Adds warm toned foliage and a soft textural contrast in shaded settings.
- Astilbe 'Fanal' (False Spirea) - Offers bold red plumes that complement the fine texture and timing of bloom.
- Hosta 'June' (Plantain Lily) - Brings broad variegated foliage that grounds the delicate structure of the plant.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' (Siberian Bugloss) - Contributes silvery foliage that brightens shaded plantings.