Rodgersia pinnata Hercules

The Rodgersia pinnata 'Hercules' is a variety of rodgersia with a huge clump of palmate foliage, reminiscent of chestnuts, in an antique bronze-brown colour in spring that evolves to dark green, changing throughout the seasons, adorned with a creamy summer flowering. By the end of summer, it turns into a vibrant red-violet. With its ample habit and luxurious foliage, this perennial is irreplaceable for creating an exotic atmosphere in moist and rather shaded areas.

The Rodgersia pinnata is a Chinese herbaceous and deciduous species belonging to the Saxifragaceae family. From its fleshy rhizome emerges a clump of large pinnate leaves, not exceeding 60 cm (24in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in width. The clumps slowly spread to form stumps of over 1 m² over time. The 'Hercules' variety stands out for its spectacular clump dimensions, reaching 1.20 m (4ft) in height and 1 m (3ft) in width. The thick foliage with prominent veins, palmate or pinnate, strongly resembles that of chestnuts. The leaves are divided into 4 to 8 lanceolate, wrinkled, deeply veined leaflets, arranged in opposite pairs, with a terminal leaflet. 'Hercules' chooses the beginning of summer to bloom, sending out its tall red-stemmed panicles, taller than those of other varieties, adorned with cream-white, softly scented flowers. The flowering is followed on the flower stalks by the formation of dark, ornamental seed heads that persist for a long time on the plant.

The Rodgersia pinnata 'Hercules' is a shade and freshness-loving plant, ideal near water features, in the company of ferns, grasses, and astilbes, or at the edge of moist woodlands with Tiarella and heucheras. It can tolerate drier conditions, as long as it is planted in shade, but it also tolerates the sun if the soil remains moist. Plant it in numbers to cover the ground along a shaded path, or in isolation, highlighted by a golden sedge carpet, an XXL clump of heuchera, and the blue flowers of liverworts.