Rodgersia

Long lived, fast rhizome spreaders; the Rodgersias form spectacular tropical looking groundcover and specimen plants for swampy landscapes and pond edges under the dappled shade of tall trees. They can be grown on more upland sites however they could very likely need some kind of supplemental water.
Preferring deep, moist, rich, cool soil on sheltered sites; in such ideal conditions the Rodgersia's foliage often puts on an amazing show of intense orange-red in the fall. After the fall color fades, cut back to near ground level and mulch with chopped leaves. Rodgersias are not generally bothered by pests or diseases. They can be somewhat slow to fully establish after transplanted. Propagation can be from division during late winter or very early spring or seed sown during early spring.

* photo taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA


Rodgersia aesculifolia ( Fingerleaf Rodgersia )
Native to western China; this spectacular deciduous perennial forms a massive, fast growing, rhizomatous clump that can reach as large as 7 x 7 feet while in bloom.
The leaves have brown-red stalks and divide into 7 large, coarsely-toothed, crinkled, obovate leaflets up to 12 x 5 inches in size. These leaflets are deep green with deeply impressed reddish veins. The entire leaf including the stalk can be up 40 x 24 inches in size. The foliage resembles that of the Horse Chestnut.
The abundant, small, white flowers are densely borne in airy infloresences up to 24 inches long on tall stalks up to 7 feet in height. The flowers are borne mid to late summer.
The seed heads are reddish.
Grows best on constantly moist, deep soil from zone 3 to 6 but grows as far south as zone 8 if kept very moist. It prefers partial to full shade, but can tolerate sun on moist sites as well.

* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum

* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken on May 17 2013 in Baltimore Co., MD

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* historical archive photo

Rodgersia 'Fireworks'
Red edged deep green foliage

Rodgersia henrici
Similar to Rodgersia aescilifolia except for having red flowers from June to July and longer narrower bronze tinted leaflets up to 12 inches in length. Native from Tibet to China; it can form a large clump to 6 x 5 feet while in full bloom.
Hardy zones 4 to 7

Rodgersia pinnata ( Featherleaf Rodgersia )
Native to western China; this stately, rhizomatous perennial forms a large clump reaching as large as 6 x 7 feet while in bloom. It makes a great architectural plant, especially next to water features.
The deciduous pinnate leaves are very large, up to 36 inches. They divided into 9 oppositely-arranged, bronze tinted deep green, finely-toothed, elliptic leaflets, up to 8 or rarely 11 x 5 inches.
From June to July, white flowers are borne in inflorescenses up to 24 inches in length on tall clusters totalling 6 feet in height.
The flowers are followed by showy red seed heads.
Grows best on constantly moist, deep soil from zone 4 to 6 but grows as far south as zone 8 if kept very moist. It prefers partial to full shade, but can tolerate sun on moist sites as well.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Elegans'
Glossy deep green foliage. Intense hot pink flowers that are densely clustered on stems reaching up to 4 feet in height.

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

'Hercules'

* photo taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA


'Irish Bronze'
Foliage is shiny, bright reddish-bronze.
Creamy pink flowers.

'Superba'
Foliage is purplish in spring later turning to deep green.
The flowers are red-pink in infloresences up to 20 inches in length.

Rodgersia podophylla ( Bronze Rodgersia )
A spectacular specimen perennial native to moist mountain forests in Korea and Japan; it forms a large clump that can reach 5 x 6 feet in leaf and a maximum size in bloom of 7 x 7 feet.
The deciduous foliage is very large, up to 3 x 4 ( rarely over 2 x 3 ) feet and divides into intensely crinkled leaflets with 5 deep lobes each up to 18 x 10 inches. They have the appearance of the Horse Chestnut. The foliage is shiny red-bronze in spring before turning to mid-green then turning scarlet-red during autumn. When well grown; this plant is very dramatic with a bold textural effect!
From June to August; white flowers are borne clustered on tall stalks up to 7 feet in height. The flower clusters reach up to 18 inches in length.
Very easy to grow but prefers deep soil that is always moist in partial to full shade. It can however tolerate sun on swampy sites that never dry out. Prefers zones 4 to 6 however can grow as far south as zone 8.

* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD



* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* historical archive photo

'Emerald'
Intense emerald green foliage and white flowers

'Redleaf'
Red-green new foliage turning green

'Rotlaub'
Foliage remains bronze in color much later into the season

'Rubra'
deep purple very glossy foliage.

'Smaragd'
deep green foliage

Rodgersia sambucifolia ( Elderberry Rodgersia )
Native to moist mountain forests in western China ( southern Sichuan and Yunnan Province ); this species is similar to R. pinnata except its smaller leaves resemble that of the Sambucus - Elderberry. It is smaller than the other species, reaching around 3 feet or rarely as much as 6 x 4 feet.
The pinnate leaves are up to 30 or rarely over 42 inches long and are divided into 8 to 11 narrow leaflets, up to 13 x 5 inches in size. The foliage is dull deep green.
The creamy-white flowers are borne on a tall flat topped inflorescence up to 7.3 feet in height.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in partial shade on moist, fertile soil. It is very tolerant of alkaline soil.

* historical archive photo

'Red Skin'
Deep red new foliage in spring turning to deep green in summer.

Rodgersia tabularis ( Shieldleaf Rodgersia )
Also called Astilboides tabularis. Native to China & Korea and reaches up to 6 x 5 feet while in bloom. This spectacular plant looks great in the woodland garden mixed with Hostas and Ferns and also next to the water.
The giant tropical looking foliage is scalloped and nearly round. The glossy deep green leaves, up to 40 inches across are borne on long stalks.
The creamy white flowers in large plumes borne on long stalks during early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, acidic soil.
Propagation is from division while dormant or seed.

* photo taken on July 26 2015 @ Niagara Parks Bot. Gardens, Niagara Falls, ON

shieldleaf rodgersia in Edmonton, Alberta

* historical archive photo