Rodgersia podophylla 'Smaragd'

RHS Plant Profile
Rodgers' bronze-leaf 'Smaragd'

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Synonyms

Rodgersia 'Smaragd'

Herbaceous Perennial
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A clump-forming perennial, to around 1m high, with palmate leaves divided into jaggedly toothed, bright green leaflets that are tinted bronze when young, and again in autumn. Tall plumes of tiny, creamy white flowers are held above the foliage in midsummer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Saxifragaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Bushy
Genus
Rodgersia are moisture-loving rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with handsome, often attractively tinted, leaves that may be pinnately or palmately divided, and small star-shaped flowers in large conical panicles in summer, remaining showy in fruit
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in fertile, consistently moist soils that are not waterlogged. Position in light shade, or in full sun in cooler areas, and protect from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back spent flowerheads

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free