Scientific Name:
Rheum palmatum
Pronunciation:
REE-um pal-MAY-tum
Common Name:
Chinese rhubarb, ornamental rhubarb
Family Name:
Polygonaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves palmately lobed with large teeth, up to 75cm long, arise from short, thick rhizomes.
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
1.5 - 2.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China (China, Tibet, Mongolia)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Bog, Humus rich
Landscape Uses:
Medicinal plant, Perennial border, Specimen plant, Waterside planting
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to R. tanguticum.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Heavily veined, Palmate venation
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Green, stalks reddish
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Rounded
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Palmately lobed
Additional Info:
poisonous
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Six, petal-like tiny sepals
Fruit Type:
Achene
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Red
Organ Modifications:
Leaf-like bracts, Rhizomes, Stipule, leafy
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Beetles or weevils (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
