I've had Rheum palmatum v. tanguticum winter over for a couple of years now without protection, in part shade. While some of the species that come from the lower elevations in Asia/China/Himalayas may not be hardy (but who knows unless people try them?), I'd say again it's another genus that hasn't been grown enough in cold zones.

I got seeds for R. australe and alexandrae and will be starting them up before too long.

Well, thank you Laurie for the green thumb praise, even though these plants are soooo easy to sow and grow ;)

I have both the white and red plume species, anyway the original seedlings were planted 3 years ago in a west facing part/shade bed with good humus soil. Yes I usually do cover any newly seedlings with loose straw during their first winter, however the following years I have let them be without any protection and so far theyÂve established to be bullet-proof hardy in these parts of the woods. So, absolutely yes, just another example of an untruly zone-rated plant.

Sharon

Well, I'm really excited now! Glad to hear that these guys are hardy enough. Although, I will mulch them their first winter.

Lori, would you happen to have a picture of yours? Again, in my searches, I've found only a few pictures and some of the pics of these two look like the leaves are almost identical. And then, some of the pics of 'atrosanguineum' look like the leaves are more rounded. Now my latin is terrible, but I thought 'palmatum' meant to have deeply serrated edges? Or is the difference between the two the flower colour maybe? Or one source said the tanguiticum variety had leaves that were more reddish in colour. Anyway, there seems to be some conflicting information about them.

I suppose in a couple of years I'll be able to see if there's any difference between the two or not. The areas I have planned to have them in are either in full sun or full shade, so I think I'll try them in both places and see how they do. Partial shade spots in my yard are few and far between, but some year........;0)

Thanks,
Laurie

palmata, palmatum, palmatus palmate means shaped like a hand.

According to RD A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants says....

R. palmatum 'Atropurpureum' syn. 'Atrosanguineum' has leaves that emerge from almost scarlet buds, the leaves are vivid crimson-purple when young, fading gradually to dark green above. Bears clustered panicles of rich cerise pink flowers.

var. tanguticum has leaves with jagged leaflets, emerging reddish green and becoming dark green, often purple tinted in age. Massive flowering stems bear erect panicles of numerous white, pink or crimson flowers.

My tanguticum bears white flowers and the leaves are more serrated and the leaves are not as purple as the asto.

My 'Atrosanguineum' are crimson flowers with purple under leaves, real cool looking in the spring when it emerges.

Sharon

Thanks for the info Sharon. It'll be really interesting to see the differences in them. That's providing I can get them past the seedling stage :) It's really amazing how they sprout in only 4 or 5 days. I'm hoping by spring they'll be large enough to plant easily.

I had two ornamental rhubarb, I believe from descriptions they would have been Rheum palmatum 'Atropurpureum'. They were planted in 2000, and did very well up until 2005. Last year about the times the buds were coming up - they're the first plant to break thru in my yard - we got a really cold snap so I decided to temporarily mulch over the new growth to protect it. After that they tried to grow a bit but withered and eventually died - it seemed that the crowns were rotting on the top. They weren't in a wet area - on a high spot, actually - and I did water them periodically. I'm waiting to see if anything at all happens this year but I'm not very hopeful. I don't know if their demise had to do with the cold or me mulching. I used grass clippings for the mulch, as I did on a few other plants with no ill effects. Their death may remain a mystery.

Oh, Pudge, that's too bad. Sounds like a case for CSI!lol It seems strange that both of them would die at the same time.

Ok, now I have another question or two. How much water do these guys need? And do they require rich soil or not?

Anyone know of a source for plant or seed of Rheum palmatum v. atrosanguineum?

Thanks,
Bill

Bill, they sell them at JL Hudson, but I noticed they are out of stock.

I'd send you some for trade but I'm fresh out of stock too, if you can wait till Fall, I'll have a ton of seeds ;)

Sharon

Here is a link that might be useful: Rheum palmatum var. atrosanguineum

Have any of you eat any of the stalks?

Paul

Not on ornamentals, but I'm sure one can?

Would anyone be willing to share some seeds???? I have never heard of them so now I'm interested (of course)..