plant

Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum

Updated 9 Jun 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) — a plant, for Full sun, Medium water. Companions: Onion.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermoderate to high

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium

Companions

Through the year

Emergence

Emergence of new shoots in early spring after the last frost and when soil temperatures consistently reach 5°C.

Flowering

Flowering typically occurs about 60 days after emergence, producing tall flower stalks.

Harvest

Stalks are ready for harvest from mid-spring to early summer, approximately 45 days after emergence, lasting for about 90 days.

Senescence

Foliage begins to die back with the first autumn frosts.

Dormancy

Enters dormancy after senescence, remaining dormant through winter until spring.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalNo
Accumulatespotassium, calcium
Soil textureloam, sandy loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodsseed, division
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Stratificationcold stratification for 2-4 weeks
Self-seedingLight
Divisionearly_spring_or_autumn

Wildlife & pests

Can host pestsrhubarb curculio, slugs, snails
Can host diseasescrown rot, leaf spot