Thalictrums are 'see-through' plants. They have heads of many small flowers, usually without petals, so consisting mainly of stamens and giving an airy appearance, aided by the finely divided foliage, often grey-green. So despite the fact that most of them have no colourful flowers, they are most attractive additions to the garden.

Thalictrum kiusianum is from the mountains of Japan. It is a mat-forming alpine, which works well in a trough or on rocky outcrops. Many fluffy, purple or white flowers are produced in summer, and the blue-green ferny foliage is very attractive too.