Description:

Palmately compound lime green leaves adorn this dwarf cultivar from Germany; leaves emerge brown and quickly turn green and then bronze in the fall; flowers are showy in large creamy plumes; prefers even moisture and shade

Ornamental Features

Smaragd Rodgersia features bold plumes of creamy white flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer. Its attractive large serrated oval palmate leaves emerge coppery-bronze in spring, turning light green in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous coppery-bronze in the fall. The red stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Smaragd Rodgersia is an herbaceous perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Smaragd Rodgersia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Smaragd Rodgersia will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.