If you need a large plant to fill a spot, try this moisture-loving flowering perennial with handsome foliage.
A big plant for a big space, Rodger’s flower adds instant architecture to the garden.
This moisture-loving plant grows well alongside streams, in bogs, and other areas with consistently damp soil.
Its massive palm-shaped leaves are thick with a coarsely toothed edge.
Count on the fragrant flower to debut in early summer and keep its good looks for several weeks.
The plants are fairly slow-growing and emerge rather late in the spring.
Planting in full sun is only advised if the soil is moist at all times.
Rodgers flower does best in rich soil but is not particular as to soil pH.
Plant it in the bog or rain garden with other moisture-loving plants.
Rodger’s flower pairs well with manyshade gardenplants.
Use its bold presence to anchor the back of a garden.
Plant it near colorful royal fern,rocket ligularia,hosta, or black snakeroot.
Be sure to select a planting location that has space for the plants expansion.
How and When to Plant Rodger’s Flower
Plant Rodger’s flower in early spring.
Dig a planting hole slightly larger than the container the plant is growing in.
Place it so that the crown of the plant is even with the surrounding grade and backfill with soil.
Water well after planting and continue to water regularly during the first season to encourage a strong root system.
Blanket the soil around Rodger’s flower with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch to prevent soil moisture loss.
Rodger’s Flower Care Tips
Rodger’s flower is a low-maintenance plant and easy to grow.
Light
Rodger’s flower grows in part shade or full sun.
If planted infull sun, wet soil is a must.
Soil and Water
The soil should be rich in organic matter with apH between 6.1 and 7.8.
Constant soil moisture is essential.
If you don’t have a location with naturally moist soil, be prepared to water the plant frequently.
If the soil dries out, leaf margins may turn brown.
At the northern range of the climate range, select a spot that is protected from chilly winter winds.
The plant has no particular humidity requirements.
Fertilizer
Unless it has been planted in nutrient-poor soil, Rodger’s flower rarely needsfertilization.
Rake and remove foliage in early spring.
Pests and Problems
Rodger’s flower is unbothered by major pests and diseases.
Occasionally, you might find snails or slugs feeding on the plants.
How to Propagate Rodger’s Flower
Rodger’s flower is easy topropagate by division.
Water divisions regularly during the first season after transplanting.
The leaves start as dark bronze and mature to a shiny green.
In the summer, tiny pink flowers emerge on branched red stems.
Small, dark pink flower panicles appear on branched stems in the summer.
Zone 4-8
Rodgersia pinnata Superba
This cultivar comes with white, creamy-pink, or bright pink flowers.
The glossy, textured, serrated foliage is bronze-colored all season long.
All have the classic intricate flowers.
The falls may be “bearded” or not.
Some cultivars bloom a second time in late summer.
Some species prefer alkaline soil while others prefer acidic soil.
These often-towering plants are grown for their delicate leaves as well as their flower.
They lack petals but have delicate and conspicuous stamens and, sometimes, persistent colored sepals that are attractive.
Meadow rues prefer lightly shaded spots where soil is humus-rich.
Flowers, too, vary from tight spikes of 1/2 inch to 1-inch cups carried alone or in whorls.
Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil is recommended; some varieties enjoy wet soil and ample water.
Zone 4-9
Astilbe
Astilbebrings a graceful, feathering note to moist, shady landscapes.
It will spread slowly over time where well-situated.
Most commercially available types are complex hybrids.
Zone 4-8
Frequently Asked Questions
The plant slowly spreads by rhizomes.
Over time, it forms large patches but the plant is not considered invasive in North America.
All five species in theRodgersiagenus are native to East Asia.
