How big does Rhubarb grow?

About 1 m × 1.2 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1.5 m × 0.9–1.5 m.

What soil does Rhubarb grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy.

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Rhubarb flower?

Flowering: May–August, white, green.

How much water does Rhubarb need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Rhubarb

Rheum rhabarbarum

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a perennial that reaches 1 m × 1.2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about €12.

Illustration of Rhubarb — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A long-lived perennial vegetable grown for its fleshy, tart leaf stalks, which you pull from April to the end of June and then leave the crown to recover. It is not a fruit, and the leaf blade must always be cut off and thrown away because it is poisonous. Give it deep, rich soil that stays moist in summer and a spot where the ground freezes in winter, as it needs winter cold to sprout well; it suffers in hot, dry summers, so water it and let it have some shade from the midday sun. Do not pick in the first year, and divide the crown about every 5 years (after 8 at the latest) to keep it vigorous. With its huge leaves it is handsome enough for an ornamental border too.

Watch out for

In Central Europe hot, dry summers are its main problem: without watering the leaves collapse, the plant goes dormant early and weakens. In waterlogged, poorly drained soil the crown rots, so use a raised bed on heavy ground. Slugs eat the young shoots, and leaf spots and aphids can occur. An old, crowded crown gives thin stalks and many flower stems: break out the flower stems and divide the crown. After a hard late spring frost do not pick the frozen stalks.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1 m × 1.2 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–August, white, green

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1 m × 1.2 m
Ultimate size	0.6–1.5 m × 0.9–1.5 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–August, white, green
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Toxic
Typical price	from about €12

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €12

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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