Rodgersia podophylla

Description

Rodgersia podophylla is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family native to Japan and Korea. Growing to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and broad, it is a herbaceous perennial with handsome spiky leaves, and occasional creamy-white flower panicles in June and July. It is extensively grown for ornamental use in gardens where it prefers damp shady positions on neutral to acid soils. Though hardy to −20 °C (−4 °F) it enjoys a sheltered location. It is chosen primarily for its clumps of large 5- or 7-toothed palmate leaves, which open bronze, turning green in summer and bronze-red in autumn. It can spread by underground rhizomes, eventually covering a large area. Rodgersia podophylla is native to the island of Honshū in Japan and to Korea. All the other species are found in China, Tibet, and Nepal. The geographical ranges of all but R. nepalensis overlap each other. In their native habitats they grow by streams and in shady moist woodland. In cultivation they thrive in soil that never dries out but is not waterlogged. They will grow in sun under these conditions in good humus rich soil but they are susceptible to sun- and wind-scorch. They are hardy down to Zone 5 but their new growths in the spring can be damaged by late frosts. The thick rhizomes spread just under surface of the soil. Three of the species are clump forming, whereas R. nepalensis and some forms of R. podophylla can cover large areas quite quickly once they are established. The strong leaf stems grow to an average height of about one metre but this depends on the variety and growing conditions. The spread of the compound leaves, especially of R. podophylla, can also be up to one metre making them architectural plants in cultivation. The flowering stems rise above the foliage and the panicles of flowers, although lacking true petals, are spectacular and colourful being white, cream, pink or red except in R. nepalensis which are greeny yellow. The leaves of many varieties are attractive in the Spring when, grown in good light, they have a bronze or copper hue. This is especially beautiful in the Purdomi group of R. aesculifolia which keep a metallic sheen into early summer. In the autumn(fall), the leaves turn attractive shades of coppery-brown. The seed heads are also attractive, those of many R. pinnata are claret coloured which deepens as winter progresses.