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Ornamental bulbs
Polygonaceae
Ornamental bulbs
Van Noort
Rheum × hybridum
‘German Wine’ Rhubarb
From bulb to bloom
Common nameGerman Wine rhubarb
FamilyPolygonaceae
GenusRheum
Species× hybridum
CultivarGerman Wine
Bulb typePlante potagère vivace
Botanical nameRheum × hybridum
Quantity per pack1
Bulb sizeNo 1
‘German Wine’ Rhubarb (Rheum × hybridum ‘German Wine’) produces substantial green-pink to red stalks valued for sweet flavour and generous juice. This mid-season cultivar is especially suitable for compotes, pies, preserves, juice, and rhubarb wine preparations. Its deciduous clump reaches approximately 90 cm tall and up to 125 cm wide according to Van Noort. The package contains one crown. Broad green leaves quickly create volume in the food garden. Only the leaf stalks are edible; leaves, roots, and every other part must never be eaten. Keep discarded foliage away from children, pets, and livestock.
Plant the crown in spring in full sun or light partial shade. Prepare deep, compost-rich, moist, freely drained soil. Set the buds approximately 2.5 to 5 cm beneath the surface and spread roots without folding them. Leave approximately 125 cm around the plant. Water after planting and maintain even moisture, especially throughout the first two seasons. Apply organic mulch without covering the crown. Remove flower stalks as soon as they appear so the plant retains its energy. Avoid any substantial harvest during the first year while roots establish. Mark the crown so routine cultivation does not injure its developing outer buds.
From the second season, harvest a few well-developed stalks by pulling them gently downward and to the side. Full production generally begins in the third year. Never remove more than one-third of the stalks at one time, and stop harvesting by midsummer so remaining leaves rebuild reserves. Cut off toxic leaf blades immediately and dispose of them beyond the reach of children and animals. In fall, allow foliage to yellow, then clean away dry material. Divide an old crown in early spring or late fall to maintain vigour. Use only clean, healthy divisions carrying several strong buds and roots.
Light and life cycle
In the garden
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade
- Life cycle
- Bulbous perennial
- Hardiness
- Zone 3
Planting and establishment
Planting guide
Planting & establishment
Planting depth
Couronne près de la surface, bourgeons au niveau du sol.
Spacing / density
space plants or bulbs 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in.).
Planting period
Printemps ou automne
Propagation
Division of an established crown in late fall or early spring
Growing method
Plantez la couronne au soleil dans un sol profond, riche et bien drainé. Maintenez le sol frais et laissez la plante s’établir la première année.
Soil and care
Soil and care
Soil & care
Soil pH
pH 6.0 to 7.5
Moisture
Evenly moist soil without standing water
Care level
Easy
Watering
Régulier, surtout à l’établissement et par temps sec; évitez les sols détrempés.
Soil type
Deep, fertile, humus-rich, moist, freely drained soil produces the best stalks. Loam amended with mature compost retains useful moisture without saturating the crown. In clay, improve structure and plant slightly above the surrounding grade. Avoid poor sand that dries quickly and depressions where water stands. Rhubarb tolerates acidic, neutral, or mildly alkaline soil. Renew compost or decomposed-leaf mulch each spring without covering buds. Keep the area free of competing weeds. Good soil preparation before planting is important because an established crown should remain undisturbed for several years.
Fertilization
Before planting, incorporate generous mature compost into deep soil. Each spring, spread compost or well-rotted manure around the clump without covering the crown. If growth remains weak, apply balanced fertilizer according to its label after active growth begins. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which produces soft tissue and unbalances the crown. After harvest, a light compost application helps remaining leaves rebuild reserves. Stop feeding as foliage yellows. Never place fresh manure directly against buds or stalks intended for food. Wash harvested stalks thoroughly before kitchen use and keep all fertilizer products away from edible surfaces.
Seasonal care
In early spring, move excess mulch aside before buds emerge and add compost around the crown. Remove every flower stalk immediately. During the first year, retain all leaf stalks. In the second, harvest only a few well-developed stalks. From the third onward, pick gradually without removing more than one-third of the clump and stop by midsummer. After every harvest, cut off toxic leaf blades and dispose of them safely. Continue watering the remaining foliage. In fall, wait for yellowing before cleanup. Divide an old crown in late fall or early spring, retaining several buds and roots on every section. Replant immediately at the original depth and water thoroughly. During harvest, use one basket for edible stalks and another container for leaf blades that will be discarded. Never leave cut leaves beside a play area, animal enclosure, or accessible waste pile. Inspect young foliage for slugs and confirm that mulch is not holding water against buds. After harvest ends, renew a thin compost layer and maintain enough moisture to support foliage. In winter, allow the crown to receive cold while protecting a container from repeated freezing and thawing. When dividing, prepare new positions before lifting the old clump, use a clean tool, and replant every section immediately. Label the cultivar and again delay substantial harvest while divisions establish. Check each new crown during spring rain so water cannot pool around cut surfaces.
Growing in containers
Container growing
Container growing
Recommended pot size
container at least 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in.) deep, with drainage
Use a very stable container at least 50 to 60 cm wide and deep with many open drainage holes. Fill it with compost-rich, freely drained potting mix. Set buds 2.5 to 5 cm beneath the surface, water, and position the pot in sun or partial shade. Keep the mix evenly moist without leaving water in a saucer. Add compost each spring without covering the crown. Do not harvest in the first year and pick very lightly in the second. Remove flower stalks. In winter, protect the container from repeated freezing and thawing. Repot or divide in early spring when the crown becomes crowded. A mature container plant may need daily moisture checks during hot weather because its broad leaves transpire heavily. In spring, remove part of the insulation, check drainage, and add compost at the surface. Resume watering as buds swell. Keep the pot away from a wall reflecting excessive heat and rotate it gradually for balanced foliage. Harvest only well-developed outer stalks without taking more than one-third of the clump. Remove toxic leaf blades immediately and dispose of them safely. After midsummer, retain every remaining stalk. When foliage yellows, clean the pot and add a visible label. Divide only a mature crown, then replace some compacted mix. An undersized container reduces vigour and dries quickly. Keep the pot inaccessible to pets that might chew leaves or investigate discarded plant material.
Growth and flowering
Size, flowering & harvest
Mature height
90 cm
Width / spread
125 cm
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Deciduous foliage that becomes dormant after flowering
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Large vigorous rounded clump
Fragrance
Subtle fragrance
Edible parts
Pétioles seulement; feuilles toxiques et non comestibles.
Bloom period
A flower stalk may appear in late spring and carry a panicle of small flowers. To favour edible stalks, remove it as soon as it becomes visible. Flowering uses crown reserves and reduces production. Cut the stalk near its base with a clean tool without injuring neighbouring buds. Repeated flowering may be related to stress, crown age, or weather conditions. Maintain even moisture, feed the soil, and divide an old clump to preserve vigour. Do not eat the flower stalk. Continue retaining normal foliage until natural yellowing so the crown rebuilds reserves.
Harvest
Au printemps et au début de l’été, à partir de la deuxième année avec modération. Récoltez les pétioles seulement; les feuilles sont toxiques.
Garden companions
Garden associations
Companion plants & uses
Companion plants
Strawberries, chives, onions, spring lettuce, and low annual flowers can occupy nearby space when they do not cover the crown. Early crops use the area before broad leaves unfold. Keep a clear zone around buds for airflow, compost application, and harvest. Avoid shrubs, trees, and vigorous perennials that dry the soil. Companions should accept fertile, moist ground without requiring constant saturation. Do not use an edible companion whose leaves could be confused with toxic rhubarb leaf blades. Maintain enough access to remove flower stalks and inspect the crown for rot throughout spring.
Garden use
Give ‘German Wine’ a permanent position at the back of the food garden or in an edible border. Its 90 cm foliage creates a dramatic backdrop, but a 125 cm spread requires room. Combine it with low crops that tolerate some summer shade without placing highly competitive roots close to the crown. A mulched path simplifies harvest and prevents soil compaction. Add compost around the plant each spring. After midsummer, retain foliage so it feeds the crown. Install a durable label stating that only leaf stalks are edible. Collect removed leaf blades immediately and keep them beyond reach. Avoid placing the crown where broad foliage obstructs a gate, walkway, or frequently used harvesting area. For a durable planting, prepare a broad area rather than one isolated hole and blend compost into the upper soil. Keep groundcovers away from the crown. Set up a closed container or secure disposal area before the first harvest so toxic leaf blades can be removed immediately. If several cultivars are grown, leave enough space to identify every clump and prevent labels from becoming mixed. Drip irrigation placed around, but never over, the buds maintains moisture. In a compact garden, choose a substantial container instead of reducing spacing. This organization protects plant vigour and makes clean harvesting easier. Keep pathways wide enough that broad leaves do not force visitors to brush against or damage the crop.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
When and how should the German Wine crown be planted?
Plant the crown in early spring once soil is workable. Soak dry roots for 30 to 60 minutes. Choose full sun or light partial shade and prepare deep, compost-rich, moist, freely drained soil. Set buds approximately 2.5 to 5 cm beneath the surface, spread the roots, and leave approximately 125 cm between neighbouring plants. Backfill, firm gently, and water. Apply organic mulch without covering the crown. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment. Avoid every harvest during the first year and remove flower stalks as soon as they appear. Mark the position so developing outer buds are not damaged by cultivation.
When can the stalks first be harvested?
Allow the plant to establish without substantial harvest during its first year. In the second season, pick only a few well-developed stalks from a vigorous crown. Normal harvest generally begins in the third year. Grasp each stalk near its base and pull gently downward and sideways. Never remove more than one-third of the stalks at one time and stop by midsummer. Remaining leaves must feed the crown until fall. Remove toxic leaf blades immediately and keep them beyond reach. Use only firm, healthy stalks and wash them before kitchen preparation. Continue watering after harvest so the retained foliage can rebuild reserves.
Which parts of rhubarb are edible?
Only leaf stalks, the substantial stems carrying the leaves, are edible. Leaf blades, roots, flowers, seeds, and every other part contain harmful substances and must never be eaten. After harvest, remove the leaf blade immediately and dispose of it beyond the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Wash stalks before cooking. Do not prepare tea, remedies, or recipes from the leaves. If a person or animal eats them or develops symptoms, contact a healthcare professional, poison centre, or veterinarian without delay. Provide the botanical name Rheum × hybridum and explain which plant part was involved. Keep this distinction visible on the garden label.
Why should flower stalks be removed?
A flower stalk uses substantial energy that would otherwise support edible stalks and crown reserves. As soon as a thick central stem unlike the leaf stalks appears in late spring, cut it near the base with a clean tool. Avoid injuring neighbouring buds. Frequent flowering may indicate an aging crown, moisture stress, or particular weather conditions. Keep soil moist, add compost, and divide an old clump when needed. Do not eat the flower stalk. Continue allowing normal leaves to feed the plant until natural yellowing. Inspect the crown afterwards because another flower stalk may develop later in the season. Check again a few weeks later.
How can German Wine rhubarb be used in the kitchen?
Sweet, juicy stalks suit compotes, pies, preserves, sauces, syrups, juice, and rhubarb wine preparations. Always remove toxic leaf blades completely, then wash and chop the stalks. Adjust sugar after tasting a small cooked portion because ‘German Wine’ may be sweeter than some cultivars. For freezing, slice clean stalks, spread them on a tray until firm, then transfer them to a labelled container. Never use roots, flowers, seed, or leaf blades. Follow a tested recipe for preserves and use safe processing methods recommended by food authorities. Discard any stalk that is soft, mouldy, or contaminated during harvest. Always label frozen portions with the date.
Wildlife and pets
Wildlife & precautions
Reported toxicity
Yes
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