Plant Library

Description:

Leaves are boldly palmate and bronze all year long on this versatile shade-lover, makes a spectacular textural accent; flower panicles are very airy and under ideal conditions can rise feet above the plants

Ornamental Features

Rotlaub Rodgersia features bold plumes of white flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer. Its attractive large serrated oval palmate leaves emerge coppery-bronze in spring, turning brown in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous coppery-bronze in the fall. The red stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Rotlaub Rodgersia is an herbaceous perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Rotlaub Rodgersia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Rotlaub Rodgersia will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity extending to 5 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.