Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) Rheum palmatum
Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) (Rheum palmatum) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Polygonaceae family, native to North-west and south-west China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan) and Tibet. It grows 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) tall and 1.2–1.8 m (3.9–5.9 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -30 °C (-22 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
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Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Polygonaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.2–1.8 m (3.9–5.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -30 °C (-22 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 3–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | North-west and south-west China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan) and Tibet |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇨🇳 China |
Is Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: leaves, roots
The leaves are rich in oxalic acid and poisonous; the root is a strong purgative (the medicinal rhubarb root, da huang).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
Questions about Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb)
- How far apart should I plant Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb)?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.2–1.8 m (3.9–5.9 ft).
- Does Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb)?
- It tolerates about -30 °C (-22 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
- When does Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) flower?
- From about June for 3–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. The leaves are rich in oxalic acid and poisonous; the root is a strong purgative (the medicinal rhubarb root, da huang).
- What grows well with Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- Huge, jagged, palmate leaves, red-purple in spring in the form ‘Atrosanguineum’, and a 2 m plume of tiny red or cream flowers in early summer. A dramatic plant for a pond side or bog garden. Its roots were the rhubarb traded along the Silk Road as a medicine for centuries.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Rhubarb Rheum x hybridum
- Sorrel Rumex acetosa
- Vietnamese coriander Persicaria odorata
- California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum
- Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
- French sorrel (buckler-leaf sorrel) Rumex scutatus
- Japanese indigo (ai, dyer’s knotweed) Persicaria tinctoria
- Himalayan fleeceflower (knotweed groundcover) Bistorta affinis