Rhubarb
Rheum rhaponticum · Polygonaceae
📷 The original uploader was Jeffdelonge at French Wikipedia. Later version (color enhancement) was uploaded by Tournachon at fr.wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Les feuilles contiennent des oxalates solubles ; une ingestion importante peut provoquer salivation, tremblements ou atteinte rénale chez chiens et chats. Les pétioles comestibles ne sont pas concernés.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant rhubarb: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Rheum rhaponticum
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Type
- Perennial herbaceous plant
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Adult height
- 120 cm
- Flowering
- June to July
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very hardy
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Wild rhubarb is low-maintenance: it needs deep soil that's slightly moist and well-drained. You can start harvesting stems from year 2 onwards.
The common mistake
Harvesting too intensively in the first year or pulling stems instead of cutting them weakens the crown and it won't bounce back properly the next year.
The pro's trick
In autumn, mulch generously (10 cm of well-decomposed compost) around the crown: the rhizome swells up, your harvest becomes earlier and more abundant, and the plant rejuvenates.
Care
Exposure
Install your wild rhubarb in full sun for optimal growth and generous production. It tolerates partially shaded locations, though its development will be slower. Good exposure also promotes the synthesis of aromatic and nutritive compounds.
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist without excess, particularly during the active growing season (spring and summer). Water deeply 2 to 3 times per week depending on climatic conditions and heat. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when the plant enters dormancy.
Soil
Wild rhubarb appreciates fertile, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Prepare the soil before planting with compost or well-decomposed manure. Avoid overly acidic or compact soils, which would promote water stagnation.
Fertilizer
Apply rich compost each spring at the base of the plant to support growth. Balanced feeding in spring is generally sufficient for one year; overfeeding encourages more foliage than genuine fruiting.
Pruning and cleanup
Regularly remove flowers that go to seed to channel energy toward leaves and stems. Remove dried aerial parts in late autumn. Annual cleaning maintains shape and prevents debris accumulation.
Diseases and pests
Wild rhubarb is generally robust, but watch for powdery mildew in humid conditions. Spider mites may appear in dry conditions. Ensure good air circulation and avoid excess foliage moisture to prevent fungal problems.
Did you know?
Wild rhubarb Rheum rhaponticum was already cultivated in Central Asia more than 5,000 years ago, before arriving in the West via the Silk Road. In medieval Europe, it was called 'Pont root' (rhaponticum) because it transited through Byzantium from the Caucasus mountains, and it was renowned for its prestigious medicinal virtues.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- SorrelRumex acetosa
- Pink knotweedPersicaria capitata
- Mile-a-minute vineFallopia baldschuanica
- RhubarbRheum rhabarbarum
- Maidenhair vineMuehlenbeckia complexa
- Red bistortBistorta amplexicaulis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.