Rheum aff. australe 'Great Bere'

Himalayan Rhubarb Polygonaceae

A magnificent, almost prehistoric-looking rhubarb, forming an enormous clump of huge, strongly textured leaves that can easily reach 3 m across in maturity. Above the foliage rise massive, branching flower stems carrying clouds of small deep reddish flowers in late spring and summer, adding another dimension to an already formidable plant. Its exact identity is intriguing: Edulis grows it as Rheum aff. australe ‘Great Bere’ and suggests that it may be a cross with R. palmatum, so we have deliberately avoided pretending that its parentage is settled.

The cultivar was named ‘Great Bere’ after the ancient woodland immediately adjacent to the nursery, giving this imposing plant a very local piece of provenance. Despite its Himalayan appearance, it is remarkably adaptable in the British garden, growing in sun or shade and tolerating a range of soils, provided they do not become excessively dry. Particularly useful for dry shade once established, although consistently moist, fertile soil will produce the largest leaves. Give it plenty of room and it becomes an extraordinary architectural plant, particularly beside woodland, ponds or large informal borders. Unlike culinary rhubarb, this is emphatically a plant grown for scale and spectacle rather than the crumble bowl.

Origin: Long-established in cultivation at Edulis; named for the ancient woodland adjacent to the nursery. Exact wild provenance and parentage uncertain; possibly involving Rheum palmatum.
Flowering: May–July
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 300–400 cm
Spread: 150–250 cm