Rodgersia is a HUGE hit

Rodgersia (Rodger’s Flower) Rodgersia is a showboat…and I LOVE it! There are several fascinating species in this family, all bearing large, stongly textured, palmate leaves that draw stares from spring through fall. Creamy white, pink or reddish-pink flowers look like astilbe plumes on steroids. Plants are usually in peak bloom in June and July. Depending on the cultivar, heights range from three feet to five feet (including the flowers).

‘Smaragd’ (pictured above) is one of the shortest varieties (only three feet in bloom), strutting light green leaves that turn coppery-bronze in fall. ‘Chocolate Wings’ (pictured right, photo PerennialResource.com) features dark, purple-bronze leaves that tend to hold their color in the heat of summer. It has reddish-pink flowers. ‘Rotlaub’ is prized for its large, reddish-chocolate leaves that support creamy white flowers. These are just a few of the exceptional ‘giants’ in this genus that make a profound statement in the garden. As with most mammoth-leaved plants, Rodgersia enjoy a spot with moisture-retentive soil and part shade to shade. Most cultivars are hardy in Zone 5 to 8 (some to Zone 4 with protection).