Rodgersia

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Rodgersia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Rodgersia (named in honor of Commodore Rodgers, United States Navy). Saxifragaceae. Hardy herbaceous perennials suitable for garden planting, with showy terminal flower-clusters. Rootstocks horizontal, thick and black : lvs. alternate, large, peltate or digitately or pinnately compound, usually dark green: infl. tall and variously compound, paniculate; fls. very numerous, small: calyx-lobes 5; petals usually none; ovary 2-3 celled.—About 8 species, China and Japan. Botanically Rodgersia is close to certain species of Astilbe, having 10 stamens and no petals; it differs in having connate carpels, scorpioid infl. and 5-cut rather than thrice-ternate foliage. Perhaps the best-known species is R. podophylla, as it was the first introduced into cultivation. It grows 3 to 4 feet high, and the leaves are finger-shaped, the five lobes being bold in outline, angled, and serrate. In the spring the foliage is light green; in summer it assumes a metallic bronzy hue. The plant is a vigorous grower, and under favorable circumstances has been known to make a clump 9 feet in diameter, the largest leaves being a yard across and borne on stalks 3 feet long. The flowers are borne in midsummer on stalks 4 to 5 feet high. The general style of inflorescence is that of the popular astilbe, to which it is closely allied. The flowers are very small, but make a feathery spray of fluffy white bloom. The panicle is a foot or more long and as wide at the base. Technically the flowers have no petals; what seem to be petals are the white calyx- segments. As a flowering plant it has been said by enthusiasts to be superior to astilbe, but the bloom is scantier, rather greenish at first, and perhaps does not last so long. It may not be so amenable to forcing. Rodgersia is a native of the subalpine regions of Japan and is presumably hardy in our northern states. It is offered by importers of Japanese plants. The plant is highly esteemed by English connoisseurs, but seems to be nearly unknown to American gardens. Although any deep rich garden soil will do, it is said to prefer a moist peaty soil. It should be placed in a sunny position, with plenty of room, where high winds cannot damage it. Easily propagated. (Wilhelm Miller.) The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Rodgersia. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Rodgersia QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)