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Rodgersia sambucifolia
Rodgersia sambucifolia
Medium · Some experienceAbout Rodgersia sambucifolia
Elderleaf Rodgersia is a Chinese perennial with pinnately compound leaves resembling elder foliage, distinguishing it from the palmate-leaved Rodgersia podophylla. Growing 3 to 4 feet tall, it produces large flat-topped clusters of creamy-white or pink flowers above its bold elder-like foliage in early to midsummer. A choice plant for American bog gardens and moist shade borders seeking elegant fine-textured bold foliage.
- Shade-tolerant
- Deer-resistant
- Architectural
- Pollinator-friendly
How to care for Rodgersia sambucifolia
Watering
- Springevery 2 days
- Summerevery 2 days
- Fallevery 5 days
- Winterevery 10 days
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.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 30 days
- Summerevery 45 days
At a Glance
- NativeEast Asia
- Height3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
- Spread2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
- Flower colorWhite, Cream, Pink
- Foliage colorGreen, Bronze
- SoilLoamy, Moisture-retentive, Rich
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
Jun–Aug
Flat-topped creamy or pink clusters early to midsummer
Fragrance
LIGHT FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a lightly sweet-scented scent.
Toxicity
No toxicity has been reported for this plant. Still, it is wise to keep pets from chewing on any houseplant.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- East Asia
History
Rodgersia sambucifolia grows along streams and wet forest edges of Sichuan and Yunnan in southwestern China. The English plant collector Ernest Henry 'Chinese' Wilson collected seeds and living plants during his 1903-1904 expedition for the Veitch Nursery, and William Botting Hemsley described the species at Kew in 1906. The epithet sambucifolia refers to the pinnately compound leaves, which resemble those of Sambucus (elderberry), distinguishing it from the palmate-leaved R. podophylla and R. aesculifolia.
It became popular in Edwardian English water gardens and remains valued for large, airy panicles of creamy white or pink flowers over bold foliage. Modern selections include 'Rothaut' with ruddy new growth.
It is widely used in naturalistic moist-ground plantings in Europe and North America. Native to southwest China, collected by British plant hunter E.H. Wilson in the early 1900s and introduced to Western horticulture through his Chinese expeditions. Less common in American gardens than its palmate-leaved cousin but prized by collectors for its unique elder-like foliage.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Rodgersia sambucifolia embodies graceful strength, its bold leaf architecture matched by the fine texture of finely divided foliage and frothy creamy flowers. It is also the flower of waterside elegance, thriving in moist woodland settings where stream meets shade. It is the bloom of the watered woodland, a perennial whose meaning is that real strength can carry refinement, large structure and delicate detail held together in a single confident plant.
- Graceful strength — bold presence with fine foliage texture
- Waterside elegance — thrives in moist woodland settings
Where the Name Comes From
'sambucifolia' from Latin means elder-leaved, for pinnately compound foliage resembling Sambucus elder leaves.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Bold elder-like leaves anchor moist shade borders
- Large creamy plumes above architectural compound foliage
- Flat flower clusters attract bees and beneficial insects
Related plants
More Rodgersia plants
Chinese RodgersiaRodgersia aesculifolia
Featherleaf RodgersiaRodgersia pinnata
Japanese RodgersiaRodgersia podophylla
Plants with similar care
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Shell GingerAlpinia zerumbet
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Rodgersia sambucifolia?
In summer, water about every 2 days; in winter, about every 10 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Rodgersia sambucifolia need?
Part shade: 2–4 hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Rodgersia sambucifolia toxic to cats or dogs?
No toxicity has been reported for this plant. Still, it is wise to keep pets from chewing on any houseplant. Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is Rodgersia sambucifolia easy to grow?
It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.
When does Rodgersia sambucifolia bloom?
It typically blooms Jun–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.
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