Botanical Name: Darmera peltata
Family: Saxifragaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Saxifragales
Genus: Darmera
Species: D. peltata
Synonyms:
*Peltiphyllum peltatum
*Saxifraga peltata Torr. ex Benth.
Common Names:Umbrella Plant, Indian rhubarb.
Habitat:Umbrella Plant is native to mountain streamsides in woodland in the western United States (southwestern Oregon to northwestern California) It grows on the banks of mountain streams below 1800 metres. By or in cold mountain stream.
Description:
Umbrella Plant is a slowly spreading rhizomatous perennial plant, growing to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall by 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide.In late spring the flowers emerge before the leaves, with rounded cymes of numerous five-petalled white to bright pink flowers (measuring up to 1.5 cm across each) borne on flower stems up to 2m long. The leaves are peltate, rounded, deeply lobed, coarsely toothed, conspicuously veined and dark green, also on stems up to 2m in height. The leaves turn red in autumn.
In gardens, Darmera peltata flourishes in pond margins and bog gardens, where it forms an imposing umbrella-like clump. It is suited to smaller gardens where there is no room for Gunnera manicata or Gunnera tinctoria, distantly related plants that are somewhat similar in appearance, but much larger.
Cultivation& Propagation:
Seed – surface sow as soon as it is ripe or in early spring in a cold frame. Keep the soil very moist. The seed usually germinates in 1 – 3 months at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[31]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Edible Uses:
Young, tender leaves edible raw. Peltiphyllum peltatum, Indian rhubarb. Peeled leafstalk edible raw or cooked. … Its leaves are used similar to a bay leaf for flavoring although the flavor is different than a bay leaf.
Medicinal Uses: Not known yet.
Other Use:
Can be grown as a ground cover plant in a sunny position. Plants should be spaced about 60cm apart each way. Useful as a soil stabilizer for marshy land or muddy banks.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmera
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Darmera+peltata
