Grow ‘Bronze Peacock’ Rodgersia for Striking Foliage and Summer Blooms

Learn about this unique rodgersia that has russet leaves and striking flower spikes, and is resilient to temperamental weather

I first met ‘ Bronze Peacock ’ rodgersia while tour private gardens in Portland , Oregon . I was immediately smitten and get laid I had to have it . More than a decade ( and four more plants ) later , my esteem for this plant has only grown stronger . This herbaceous perennial emerges from a creeping rhizomatous clunk in spring with shiny , extremely textured , deep saturate russet / burgundy - colored leaves . The sawhorse chestnut tree – like leafage gets much larger as it matures and then fades to green .

As the show - stopping ( you could say peacocky ) leaf emerges so do the flower spikes , which eventually rise 1 to 2 feet above the leaves . In my garden , the flowers open in former summer and continue for 6 to 8 week . The belittled floral bunch ( reminiscent ofAstilbeblossoms ) are a treat for bee and hoverflies . They fade graciously and ask no deadheading . I keep the architectural germ head in piazza until the come after spring for both added interest and to alarm me to the location of this deciduous plant . I also get the come fall leaves stay put on the soil for critter habitat until just before the new leafage appears in spring .

‘ Bronze Peacock ’ has thicker , more resilient leaves than other rodgersias I have grown and has not suffered from the severe weather condition swings in my Zone 7 garden . Just prior to the 110 ° F heat dome we experienced here in June 2021 , I water deeply , and all my flora brave out the result unscathed . They also returned unmoved after temperatures dropped to 8 ° fluorine last winter . Most rodgersias are water lovers , detest full sun , and will wilt easy if not sited accordingly . I ’ve found ‘ Bronze Peacock ’ is a bit more tolerant of full sun if come out where it gets an column inch of weekly water in summer and no reflected oestrus . I top - tog my plants with compost for nutrients and to keep dirt wet . During the fourth dimension I ’ve grown this plant , it has never been damaged by slugs , bunny rabbit , or cervid .

‘ Bronze Peacock ’ has a long list of comrade plants . I am particularly fond of pairing it with dissimilar rough-textured buddies , like Japanese forest grass ( Hakonechloa macraand cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) , oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifoliaand cvs . zone 5–9 ) , small - leafed evergreens or perennials , and conifers — taking care to manage the rodgersia leave behind so they do not shadow its neighbors . ‘ Bronze Peacock ’ is a really glorious architectural workhorse in mixed planting and bold grouping .

‘ Bronze Peacock ’ rodgersia

Rodgersia pinnata‘Bronze Peacock ’

Zones:5–8

condition : Full sun to partial shade ; fairly moist to wet , well - drained soil

Native Range : China

Tina Dixon is a professional plantsman with a rage for container in Snohomish , Washington .

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