Rodgersia

Sun

Partial shade, ideally with morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun is suitable only where summers are cool and soil stays consistently moist.

Water

Needs consistently moist soil; water deeply during dry spells. Do not let the root zone dry out.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates heavy soil if it is not stagnant or permanently waterlogged.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), including flower stems

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Early to midsummer; branched sprays of small creamy-white flowers.

Foliage

Large, palmately divided leaves, usually with five broad, toothed leaflets whose tips are lobed. Young foliage is bronze, becoming deep green; autumn colour can include bronze and red.

Growth

Moderate once established; slow to settle after planting or division.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.7 ft (0.53 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.5 ft (0.76 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (0.99 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply whenever the soil begins to dry, especially during the first growing season.
• Apply a layer of compost or leaf mould in spring to retain moisture, keeping it clear of emerging shoots.
• Choose a position sheltered from drying winds and strong afternoon sun.
• Feed lightly in spring if growth is weak; rich soil usually needs no additional fertiliser.
• Divide only when necessary, in early spring, as established clumps dislike disturbance.

Pruning. Cut dead leaves and flower stems to ground level in late autumn or late winter, before new shoots emerge. Remove frost-damaged spring leaves once the risk of further hard frost has passed.

Late winter

Clear away remaining dead stems and foliage before new growth starts.

Early spring

Plant or divide while dormant or just starting into growth; water thoroughly.

Spring

Mulch with compost or leaf mould and protect emerging leaves with fleece if a late frost is forecast.

Summer

Check soil moisture regularly and water deeply during dry weather.

Late summer

Remove spent flower stems if you prefer a tidier appearance.

Autumn

Leave healthy fading foliage for autumn colour, then remove it after it collapses.

• Plant beside a pond or stream where the roots stay moist but are not submerged.
• Use as a bold foliage anchor in a shaded border with ferns and hostas.
• Group beneath deciduous trees where soil moisture can be maintained without heavy root competition.
• Pair with astilbes and Japanese primroses for contrasting foliage and successive flowers.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Bog garden, Japanese, Architectural minimal, Blues and silvers and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Hostas, Astilbes, Japanese primroses, Lady ferns, Siberian bugloss and Ligularias.

Wildlife: The small summer flowers attract visiting insects, including bees and flies. Dense foliage provides shelter for small garden animals.

• Brown, crisp leaf edges usually indicate drought, hot sun or drying wind; water deeply, mulch and provide more shelter or afternoon shade.
• Late spring frost can blacken emerging foliage; cover shoots with fleece when frost is forecast and remove damaged leaves afterward.
• Slugs and snails may damage young shoots; inspect at dusk, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
• Rot and poor growth can occur in stagnant, waterlogged soil; improve drainage or move the plant to moist ground above the waterline.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No particular plant part is recognised as poisonous, but species-specific safety information is limited; it is an ornamental, not a food plant.

• Horse-chestnut-leaved rodgersia (Rodgersia aesculifolia)

  Its narrower leaflets resemble horse-chestnut leaves and lack the conspicuously lobed tips typical of Rodgersia podophylla.

• Featherleaf rodgersia (Rodgersia pinnata)

  Its leaflets are arranged along a short central stalk rather than radiating as distinctly from one point; flower colour may be white or pink.

• Shieldleaf (Astilboides tabularis)

  It has large, undivided, rounded leaves with the stalk attached beneath the blade, rather than separate leaflets.

Rodgersia honours the American naval officer John Rodgers, while podophylla means foot-leaved, referring to the leaf shape.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in early spring, taking substantial pieces of rhizome with roots and at least one healthy growing point. Seed can also be sown fresh, but germination and establishment can be slow.

Accepted botanical name

Rodgersia podophylla

Native range

Japan, Korea and Manchuria.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.