Growing Rhubarb: A Bold Addition to Your Garden
If you’re looking for a plant that combines dramatic beauty with delicious harvests, rhubarb (Rheum) might just be your new garden favorite. This perennial powerhouse has been winning over gardeners for generations with its impressive foliage and tangy, edible leaf stalks that make perfect pies and jams.
What Exactly Is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a perennial forb – essentially a non-woody plant that comes back year after year. Don’t let the simple classification fool you though; this plant makes a serious statement in the garden. As a member of the genus Rheum, it’s built to last and designed to impress with its architectural presence.
The Not-So-Native Truth
Here’s something that might surprise you: rhubarb isn’t actually native to North America. This hardy character originally hails from the mountainous regions of Central Asia, particularly China, Mongolia, and Siberia. However, it has naturalized across much of North America and now reproduces spontaneously in the wild throughout Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48 states.
You’ll find established rhubarb populations thriving in states and provinces including Alberta, Alabama, British Columbia, Alaska, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Colorado, Connecticut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, District of Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Why You Might Want Rhubarb in Your Garden
Rhubarb brings some serious advantages to your outdoor space:
- Dramatic foliage: Those massive, crinkled leaves create instant impact and can reach impressive sizes
- Colorful stalks: The thick leaf stalks come in gorgeous shades of red, pink, and green
- Edible harvest: Fresh rhubarb stalks are perfect for pies, jams, and other culinary creations
- Pollinator support: The tall flower spikes attract bees and other beneficial insects
- Low maintenance: Once established, rhubarb is relatively hands-off
- Cold hardy: This tough plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8
Perfect Spots for Rhubarb
Rhubarb works beautifully in several garden settings. It’s a natural fit for vegetable gardens where you can easily access those delicious stalks for harvesting. The bold foliage also makes it an excellent choice for ornamental borders where you need a plant with serious visual impact. Cottage gardens benefit from rhubarb’s old-fashioned charm, and anywhere you need dramatic architectural elements, this plant delivers.
Growing Conditions That Make Rhubarb Happy
Success with rhubarb comes down to mimicking its preferred natural conditions. This plant loves cool, moist environments and thrives in rich, well-draining soil. While it can handle full sun, it actually performs better with some afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates. Think of it as preferring the Goldilocks zone – not too hot, not too dry, but just right.
Planting and Care Tips
Getting rhubarb established is surprisingly straightforward:
- Timing: Plant rhubarb crowns in early spring when the soil can be worked
- Soil prep: Enrich your planting area with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure
- Spacing: Give plants plenty of room – they’ll spread 3-4 feet wide when mature
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged
- Mulching: A thick layer of organic mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Harvesting: Wait until the second year to harvest, then enjoy stalks from late spring through early summer
A Word About Native Alternatives
While rhubarb isn’t problematic as a non-native plant, you might want to consider native alternatives that provide similar benefits. Plants like wild ginger or native sedums can offer interesting foliage, while native berry bushes provide both visual appeal and food for local wildlife.
The Bottom Line on Rhubarb
Rhubarb is one of those plants that earns its keep in multiple ways. It’s not native, but it’s also not invasive or problematic. If you have the right growing conditions and appreciate both edible and ornamental plants, rhubarb can be a wonderful addition to your garden. Just remember to give it the cool, moist conditions it craves, and you’ll be rewarded with years of dramatic foliage and delicious harvests.
