Thalictrum cooleyi is a rare species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name Cooley's meadow-rue.

[3] It is native to the southeastern United States, where it is present in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Seven subpopulations of plants have been recently discovered in Georgia; these are treated as members of this species but their taxonomy is not certain.

[6] It grows in open, moist habitat types such as savannas, bogs, and swamp forests.

The soil is generally a sandy loam which is neutral or slightly acidic and wet at least part of the year.

In the absence of a normal fire regime the plant grows in areas that are kept clear and open by other means, including human activities such as mowing.