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Herbaceous Perennial

Rheum 'Great Bere'

rhubarb 'Great Bere'

A very large, hardy variety of ornamental rhubarb, reaching a height of around 3m, forming clumps of large, spikey-edged green leaves on tall, thick stems. Clusters of red flowers appear in late spring to summer. Copes well in shade as long as it is planted in soil which doesn't dry out, and can be grown next to a pond or stream

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Polygonaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Rheum are robust rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with large, simple or palmately lobed leaves and tall leafy stems bearing large panicles of tiny flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist soil in sun or shade

Propagation

Propagate by division of established crowns in late autumn or early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Cut back in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to stem and bulb eelworm, swift moth caterpillar, and to slugs and snails on young growth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, downy mildews, grey mould, crown rot and virus diseases

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