2 named cultivars

fruit vegetable

Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum

$34.00

The Story

Plant Bio

Rheum rhabarbarum, rhubarb, is a large clumping herbaceous perennial from Asia, forming a crown of huge crinkled green leaves up to two feet across on thick fleshy red or green stalks. Tall spikes of small greenish-white flowers rise in late spring, and the plant dies back completely to the crown each winter.

Eat the stalks and never the leaf blades: the leaves contain enough oxalic acid to be genuinely poisonous, and the distinction is not obvious to anyone who has not been told. Cut the flower spikes out as soon as they appear, since a plant allowed to flower puts its energy into seed and the stalk crop drops away sharply.

Uses & Benefits:

Dramatic architectural foliage on red stalks, bold enough to earn a place in an ornamental border.

A long-lived perennial crop that produces for a decade or more from a single planting.

The tall flower spikes attract pollinators if a plant is allowed to bloom at the end of its cropping life.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

36 inches

Width

42 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Asia

Toxicity

Stalks edible; leaf blades poisonous

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Rocky Knoll Farm

1+ Gal Pot

In Stock$34.00

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant crowns in autumn or early spring in full sun.
Give it deep, rich, well-drained soil and plenty of room.
Do not harvest at all in the first year.
Cut out flower spikes as soon as they appear.
Pull stalks with a twist rather than cutting them.
Leave at least a third of the stalks on the plant.

Pro Tip

Pull stalks with a sideways twist rather than cutting them — a cut stub rots back into the crown and invites disease.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Cut out flower spikes at once ✂️
Pull stalks with a twist, not a knife 🌱
Feed and mulch generously each spring 🍂
Leave a third of the stalks standing 🌿

Don't

Eat the leaf blades — they are poisonous ❌
Harvest anything in the first year ❌
Let it flower unchecked ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Feed
Harvest

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Kitchen garden and edible bedBold foliage in an ornamental edible borderPermanent perennial crop area

Companion Plants

Strawberry Comfrey Garlic Onion Brassicas

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Rhubarb questions

What zones can Rhubarb grow in?

Rhubarb is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Rhubarb deer resistant?

Yes — Rhubarb is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Rhubarb bloom?

Rhubarb typically blooms in late spring through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Rhubarb need full sun?

Rhubarb does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.