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Featherleaf Rodgersia (Rodgersia pinnata), whole plant
  • Featherleaf Rodgersia — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Featherleaf Rodgersia — seasonal appearance
  • Featherleaf Rodgersia in a garden setting

Featherleaf Rodgersia

Rodgersia pinnata

Medium · Some experience

About Featherleaf Rodgersia

Featherleaf Rodgersia is a bold perennial from southwest China, 3–4 feet tall, with pinnately divided bronze-tinted leaves and large panicles of star-shaped pink, rose, or white flowers in early summer. Requires moist soil and partial shade. A statement plant in Pacific Northwest and New England bog gardens and alongside streams. 'Elegans' and 'Superba' offer vivid bronze spring foliage. Hardy zones 5–8.

  • Architectural
  • Pollinator-friendly
WATER
Wants wet
Keep moist
LIGHT
Part shade
2–4 hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -30°F (-34°C)
USDA hardiness zones 4–7

How to care for Featherleaf Rodgersia

Watering

  • Springevery 3 days
  • Summerevery 2 days
  • Fallevery 4 days
  • Winterpause watering

Soil · Moisture-retentive

  • Top dressingSphagnum moss10%
  • Main mixPeat + coco coir 1:180%
  • DrainagePerlite / gravel10%

Keep it evenly moist — but the drainage layer still matters.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
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At a Glance

  • NativeEast Asia
  • Height3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Spread2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
  • Flower colorPink, Cream, Red
  • Foliage colorGreen, Bronze
  • SoilLoamy, Moisture-retentive, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Pink star panicles early summer

Toxicity

Toxicity unknown

None reported

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for humans is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for dogs is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for cats is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Featherleaf Rodgersia · Native
  • Native
  • Introduced
  • East Asia

History

Illustrated historical scene for Featherleaf Rodgersia

Rodgersia pinnata grows in moist montane forests and alpine meadows of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou in southwestern China at 1800-3900m elevation. Irish plantsman Augustine Henry collected it while working as a medical officer for the Imperial Maritime Customs Service in late 19th-century China. William Botting Hemsley at Kew described it in 1886.

The genus Rodgersia honors US Admiral John Rodgers, who commanded the Pacific expedition that first brought rodgersia specimens to Western science. The species and its cultivars including 'Superba' and 'Elegans' became favorites in Edwardian bog gardens and later in the new naturalistic plantings of designers like Mien Ruys and Piet Oudolf.

Its architectural pinnate foliage resembles horse chestnut leaves. Introduced from Yunnan province, China by plant hunters in the late 19th century. A connoisseur's perennial in American gardens, prized at specialty nurseries in the Pacific Northwest where the cool, moist climate suits its needs.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Featherleaf Rodgersia embodies majestic presence, an architectural Asian woodland plant whose pinnate leaves and creamy plume flowers hold court at the moist edge of pond and stream. Considered a specialty for cool, damp gardens, it brings exotic refinement to the shaded border. This is a plant for the patient designer — a stately presence that rewards careful siting with one of the most distinctive textures available in the perennial palette.

  • Majestic presence — architectural Asian woodland plant
  • Exotic refinement — specialty plant for cool, moist gardens

Where the Name Comes From

Genus honors Admiral John Rodgers, 19th-century American expedition leader; 'pinnata' means 'pinnate' for the leaf form.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Featherleaf Rodgersia perennial used in cottage and naturalistic borders
  • Featherleaf Rodgersia flowers nourish foraging bees and pollinators
  • Large textured leaves and airy plumes bring drama to damp shade

Related plants

More Rodgersia plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Featherleaf Rodgersia?

Water about every 3 days during the growing season, and always let excess water drain away.

How much light does Featherleaf Rodgersia need?

Part shade: 2–4 hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Featherleaf Rodgersia toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Unknown (Dogs Unknown · Cats Unknown) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Featherleaf Rodgersia easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Featherleaf Rodgersia bloom?

It typically blooms May–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.

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