Waxy Meadowrue is a perennial wildflower in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family that grows 3 - 7' tall in the eastern US and Canada. It has a thick central stem that is green or slightly reddish purple with short hairs. The stem branches occasionally. It can be found in streambanks, edges of pond or forests, thickets, meadows, prairies, and roadsides. Plant it in moist to slightly dry conditions, and partial to full sun. This plant usually grows in fairly typical garden soil, such as a rich loam or clay loam. The height of a plant can vary considerably on fertility of the soil, moisture conditions, and maturity. Very rapid growth in the spring and only blooms for about 3 weeks. This species of Meadowrue appears to tolerate full sun and drought conditions better than most. However, it will still die back in the heat of the summer but will grow new basal leaves in the fall. You won't find many places to purchase this plant, possibly because of the foul-smelling leaves when places do sell the Purple Meadowrue as it is so similar and has no smell. However, it is easily grown from seed. Also, it is rhizomatous, where you can divide the plant when it is dormant in the spring. Plant in a meadow or slope of a bank, near a pond or in a woodland or other naturalized area. Quick ID: Each leaflet has glandular hairs on the underside which gives it a waxy appearance that will glisten when they are exposed to sunlight. The margin of each leaflet turns downward slightly. The leaves have a foul smell when crushed (skunk-like). Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Open
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Leathery; Soft
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Each leaflet is about ¾–2" long and half as much across. It is rounded at the base, and either without lobes or with 2-3 lobes toward the outer edge, containing a large middle lobe and 2 smaller side lobes. The lobes are bluntly pointed. The underside of the leaflet has glandular hairs which gives it a waxy appearance that will glisten when they are exposed to sunlight. The margin of each leaflet turns downward slightly. When crushed, leaves produce a foul smell, skunk-like.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Long-stalked flowers growing in large branching clusters with slender stamens. The male flower is 1/3" long, has 4-5 light green sepals that spread outward, white stamens with yellow, brown or purplish anthers. The male flowers usually droop downward from slender pedicels. The female flowers are shaped like small green burs and have numerous short pistils. No petals.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The female flowers are replaced by small achenes that are ribbed and pointed at both ends, becoming brittle with age and often shed.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
A thick central stem that is green or slightly reddish purple with short hairs. The stem branches occasionally.