Rhubarb
Rheum × hybridum
Also called Garden rhubarb
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitPull the stalks, never cut them, and never eat the leaves — those are genuinely poisonous.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 5 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 1.25 m tall · 1.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Siberia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: kidney failure, tremors and drooling.
PeopleHarmful if eaten
Leaves. Safe to eat: leaf stalks, cooked.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A stalk comes away at a touch with a brown, soft, sunken base, and the crown beneath is discoloured and smells sour — usually where water stands over winter.Crown rot · disease
- A thick knobbly bud pushes up from the centre of the crown in late spring and starts to open into a tall creamy flower head; cut it out low, it takes the crown's strength.Bolting · disorder