Darmera
( dar - MARE - ah )
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At-A-Glance InformationDarmera peltata, also called Peltiphyllum peltatum, Umbrella Plant or Indian Rhubarb, is a perennial that needs partial shade and ample amounts of water. It is the only species in its genus, and is native to the mountains of Northern California and Oregon. These plants produce large clusters of pink flowers on 6-foot tall stalks in the springtime. Leaves appear after flowers on 2-6 foot tall stalks, and are large, green and shaped like shields. Plants can spread 4-8 feet wide by underground rhizomes. They love damp areas and are great for stream and river beds as well as next to ponds and lakes. Darmera is a member of the plant family Saxifragaceae, and is named for German 19th-century horticulturalist Karl Darmer. Umbrella Plants grow best in zones 2-7 and 14-20. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Caring for Darmera
Plant your Darmera in a spot in the garden that receives partial to full shade in a moist, boggy, or low area of the garden. These plants are perfect for bioswales and rain gardens, due to their love for wet soils. They can be grown in full sun, but will need to be irrigated more in this exposure to stay healthy. Darmera prefers a soil that is well-draining, fertile, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. New plantings should be watered regularly as they establish a strong root system. Mature plants enjoy an evenly moist substrate.
These plants are considered to be easy to grow, and do not require much ongoing maintenance. Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This one feeding will be sufficient to carry the plants through their active growing and blooming seasons. Pruning is not necessary for these plants, though any damaged, diseased, or otherwise unsightly foliage can be trimmed off at any time during the growing season in order to clean up the look of the plant. Spent blooms can also be trimmed off, which will neaten the appearance as well as discourage plants from re-seeding
These plants are considered to be easy to grow, and do not require much ongoing maintenance. Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This one feeding will be sufficient to carry the plants through their active growing and blooming seasons. Pruning is not necessary for these plants, though any damaged, diseased, or otherwise unsightly foliage can be trimmed off at any time during the growing season in order to clean up the look of the plant. Spent blooms can also be trimmed off, which will neaten the appearance as well as discourage plants from re-seeding
Propagation
Darmera can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Indian Rhubarb plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Darmera by Seed
Propagating Darmera by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in wintertime (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth). To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Darmera by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Darmera by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in wintertime (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth). To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Darmera seed pods, left behind after flowers have faded.
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Darmera seeds.
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Problems and Pests
Darmera can have issues in the garden with the following pests and diseases:
- Slugs and Snails
- Powdery Mildew
- Leaf Spot
Gallery
Darmera plants produce pink flowers atop tall flowering stems.
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Fall chill can turn leaves a reddish-orange color.
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Here, a Darmera is grown on a shady patio in a container, alongside Hosta and ferns.
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Darmera flowers appear before foliage each year.
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Darmera plants prefer moist habitats, such as near streams, rivers, or bodies of standing water.
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Darmera growing on the edge of a backyard pond.
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Videos
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All about these interesting plants.
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Watch a time lapse of Darmera flowers emerging in springtime.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 281, Darmera peltata
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