Family Saxifragaceae.
Originating from China.
- Huge, horse-chestnut-like leaves create dramatic architectural clumps.
- Tall plumes of creamy-white to pink flowers rise above the foliage.
- Moisture-loving and clump-forming, excellent for shady areas.
The Horse Chestnut Leaved Rodgersia in Your Garden
Bold, rounded leaflets form open hands up to 60cm wide. With incredible, deeply veined texture and detail, they progress through a range of colours from spring to autumn. This lush, spectacular display forms a dense, mound-shaped backdrop for an equally showy floral flourish in summer.
Rodgersia aesculifolia is hardy in all UK gardens. Its foliage grows up to 1.2m tall, with the flower spikes reaching 2.5m. It forms a clump up to 1.5m wide in 2-5 years and will continue to spread in ideal conditions. Norfolk and Suffolk’s shady stream side or bog gardens are their perfect habitat, creating a lush woodland or jungle look.
In summer, dramatic spikes of creamy white-pink flowers appear, making elegant plumes over the foliage. Their colours are perfect for partial shade, making a bright feathery impact, attracting pollinators in their droves. As they dry in autumn, the flowers take on a reddish hue and provide interest into early winter.
Growing Tips for Your Large Leaf Shade Plant, Rodgersia aesculifolia
- Soil and sun: any deep, moist soil, in sun or part shade. Humus-rich soil is ideal.
- Planting: at any time of year. Never plant a dry plant! Plunge for 10 minutes to drench the root ball.
- Watering: will tolerate only brief dry spells once established. Water regularly in the first summer while rooting out.
- Pruning: Cut back dead foliage in late autumn or early spring.
Although boggy soil is its usual habitat, it is remarkably robust in normal garden soil and in full sun. Even when not reaching its full, lush potential, it is too good a large leaf shade plant not to include. It is highly ornamental from the emergence of its primaeval-looking emerging shoots to its bright red and orange autumn colours.
