Oriental Glories – Rodgersia

Name – Amazingly, there have been three naval generations of the Rodgers family. The first, Commodore John Rodgers, who acted as president of the Board of Naval Commissioners, following the War of 1812, served in the US Navy until 1837. The plant itself is named for his son, Rear Admiral John Rodgers, who led exploring expeditions in waters off China and through the Bering Strait in 1855 – the Rodgersia was named for these Chinese voyages. Commander John Rodgers II, his son was a pioneer of naval aviation.

Description - Rodgersia is a bold, striking perennial plant with five lobed leaves and upright panicles of tiny soft pink, cream or white flowers, resembling the Astilbe. It grows well at the waters edge, and requires constant moisture or the leaves will crisp and turn brown along the edges. After flowering, the distinctive foliage, which resembles that of Horse chestnut but in miniature, is still highly ornamental.

Origin - These are very tall members of the saxifrage family that are native to light woodlands, glades and mountain streams in Asia. Typically of saxifrages, they produce lots of flowers, on a tall flowering stem. They grow well in a shady garden or can cope with conditions in light woodland at the edge of a formal garden as long as they are kept constantly moist. Grow them in rich soil and make sure they do not dry out, otherwise they are quite hardy once established.

For Decoration - Rodgersias are pretty cut flowers but also excellent for their foliage effects, or as architectural plants since their large leaves may be either palmate or pinnate shaped.

Chinese Rodgersia photograph author’s own

 

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