Practical
Plants

Rodgersia podophylla

a perennial member of the Rodgersia genus in the family Saxifragaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.3 m
Spread
2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves[1][2]. No more details are given.

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 1 metre apart each way[5].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Moist woods in the mountains of C. and N. Japan, 700 - 2000 metres[8]. Shaded slopes in Jilin and Liaoning provinces, China[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring[4]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist to wet but well-drained humus-rich soil in a shady position or a cool sunny place by water but sheltered from hot drying winds[3][4][6]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[6]. Hardy to at least -20°c[3]. Plants spread slowly by means of a stout creeping rhizome, eventually forming large clumps[3]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[4].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  8. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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