Rodgersia That?
So I’m still trying to figure out what to plant in place of the Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) that are snuggled up against the hedge on the west side of the Back Garden. Whatever I choose has to be pretty shade tolerant, as this spot is shaded by the hedge itself in the afternoon, in addition to the dappled shade that covers the Back Garden as a whole.
So my interest was piqued when I saw that Richard Hawke of the Chicago Botanic Garden had done plant trials of various Rodgersias. I was also a little surprised, because I didn’t realize they were cold hardy in the Chicago area. They seemed like the sort of plant that would be at home in southern England or the Pacific Northwest, but not on the shores of Lake Michigan (the genus originated in east Asia).
Anyhow, there were two Rodgersia varieties from the trial that in particular spoke to me: Fingerleaf Rodgersia (R. aesculifolia) and R. podophylla ‘Smaragd’. Both have white flowers, which I tend to favor in shady gardens. I realize that for most people the bold foliage is the primary virtue of Rodgersias, but I cannot give up my floracentric outlook.
Anyway, I am going to put these two Rodgersias on the short list of possible replacements for the Viburnums. Another possibility I’m considering (and I realize this is looking in a totally different direction): Sweet Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum), which I have found to be very shade tolerant. This is a tall plant with dusty-pink summer flowers, greatly loved by pollinators.
An advantage of Sweet Joe Pye Weed is that I wouldn’t have to buy any new plants – there are surely more than enough young volunteer plants available for transplant.
Any thoughts?
gardeninacity 
Have never grown Rodgersias but that first one you show, Rodgersia ‘Smaragd’, with the lime green foliage, might look nice in the shade and would brighten up the spot. Good luck choosing.
I’m not familiar with Rodgersia but it’s lovely. Of course, I’m so gardening deprived right now, I’d probably buy anything. 🙂
I guess it’s like how you should not go grocery shopping when your hungry.
I think I missed the post where you mentioned why you’re replacing the Cranberrybush Viburnums? Too prolific? Some other reason? I’m a big fan of V. trilobum, But it sounds like you’re moving more toward a patch of forbs to replace a hedge of shrubs? I like the idea of the Sweet Joe Pye. Or maybe Blue Mistflower would work? I have it growing in both dappled shade and partial shade, and it does quite well in both. If you want a sprawling shrub that performs well in dappled or deciduous shade, Pagoda Dogwood (shrub version) is a great option. We have a patch in the woods that’s only like 7 feet tall, but quite wide. I’m not sure how big it was when we first moved here, but it’s naturalized and beautiful now.
The main reason is that it’s too large for the space, plus the squirrels eat all the berries we we don’t get any winter interest. Blue Mistflower is a possibility.
I’ve had fairly good luck with Rodgersias til it gets hot and dry in Aug. and mine rarely flower.
Huh. That’s good to know. Our soil around there is generally moist but it can dry out.
I’d be concerned about R. podophylla spreading beyond control. What about maple leaf viburnum? Not that those are easy to find….
I’ll second this suggestion of considering V. acerifolium. Yep, it’s swapping one viburnum for another, but I think this one is much more of a mid-size plant than V. trilobum.
A quick glance around the Web shows a mature size of 6 feet high x 12 feet wide for V. trilobum and only 3-6 feet high x 2-4 feet wide for V. acerifolium.
Plus V. acerifolium foliage bowls me over with its awesomeness 🙂
I do know a nursery called Possibility Place that has maple leaf viburnum, but they don’t ship their plants.
I volunteered on evening island at cbg for several years and the rodgersias never looked really nice in the heat of summer. I wouldn’t if it twere me—Especially in a smaler garde of choice specimens. So many nicer options Dont you hste a crispy brown edge part of the year?
Yes, yes I do.
I am not familiar with that one.
We grow a few shade tolerant plants, but without familiarity with your climate, I would not want to make any recommendations. I think that hostas and ferns are overrated.
Hostas definitely. Couldn’t get along without ferns, though.
I just planted Joe Eye weed in my woodland garden this year, and so far I am pleased with it. I am always looking for something new to plant in my shady garden. Now I must research Rodgersia; it is quite beautiful!
Sounds like it’s a good choice if you have lots of moisture.
I should be keeping out of this discussion as I know nothing about either plant, but…which one attracts more bees?
Probably the Joe Pye.
I grow my rogersias in my bog garden, they do like a lot of moisture to grow and flower well. They are beautiful plants if happy.
No bogs in my garden – I’m beginning to think Rodgersias are not for me.
My rodgersias are also thriving in the shade. They have no trouble with frost as low as -15. But as Pauline says, they do need a lot of water too look well in the summer. Smaragd is looking really nice.
Is your soil very moist? I thought for some reason that soil is very sandy in Denmark.
I have some plants of Rodgersia in my garden, Jason. They are very hardy and survive well frost winter. Love your photos.
They must be hardy if they grow well for you!
I would think of Rodgersia as an experiment if you decide on it. Just going by my own trials. It is not drought tolerant. At least not in my garden. I love the looks of this plant but it sure didn’t like it in my garden.
Maybe I’ll plant just one and see what happens …
Would ostrich ferns work in your climate?
Oh yes, I have lots!
Keep us posted!
Will do!
I have rarely observed Rodgersia looking good in gardens. They are intolerant of drying out. Always fun to try something new though. Perhaps the fingerleaf would require less moisture. If you are looking for something bold how about Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) It flowers quite well in shade. Another one that interests me is Aralia ‘Sun King’.
Love Cup Plant. Have it growing in the front garden. Didn’t know it was shade tolerant. I also have Aralia racemosa, but not the variety ‘Sun King’.
I grow Rodgersia very successfully and agree with the comments above — it does need consistent moisture and can quickly become very large. If those are virtues in your situation, I recommend it, but it can burn if the sun is too strong. I also have had good luck with Aralia ‘Sun King.’ It doesn’t have the blossoms that you want, though. Joe Pye weed grows here as its name suggests — as a weed, prolifically and everywhere. Even so, it is a good choice. For me, it blooms better in sunlight than in shade but for your climate may be ok.
I remember seeing ‘Sun King’ in your garden, a stately plant indeed. On reflection I think our summers can be too hot and dry for the Rodgersia.
I have no experience with Rodgersias, but I do love Joe Pye Weed as the butterflies love it and it flowers for weeks and weeks on end. Maybe you need to find out how attractive the flowers of Rodgersia are to pollinators and how long it flowers?
I think Joe Pye definitely wins when it comes to pollinators.
I’ve never grown them but I like the look of the foliage.
I haven’t come across Rodgersia before, white would be nice in the shade. Love the Joe Pye Weed though! I’d go for that!xxx
I may just do that.
I’m not acquainted with Rogersia but would definitely check for invasiveness (esp. as someone has already mentioned that). I love Joe Pye Weed and have both a white and pink variation in the garden – as you mentioned the pollinators LOVE it.
I’ve never seen a white Joe Pye, are you talking about Boneset?
It was one of the plants we inherited when we moved here 10 years ago and has done so well. I did some amateur plant identification sleuthing trying to figure out what was in the garden and I pegged this one as ‘Bartered Bride’ Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum). I will take another look this coming season, though, as now you have me wondering if I’ve misidentified it.
How tall is it?