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Key characteristics

Family: Saxifragaceae
Height: 3 to 4 feet tall
Width: 3 to 4 feet wide
Flower color: Creamy white
Foliage color: Bronze-green
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Part shade to full shade
Water: High; prefers consistently moist to wet soil
Maintenance: Moderate; prune back old foliage in late fall or early spring
Growing zone: USDA zones 5 to 8
Wildlife: Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant

Perennials

Rodgersia podophylla ‘Rotlaub’

Red Leaf Rodger’s Flower

Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub' is a striking perennial native to China and Japan, prized for its large, bold, bronze-red palmate leaves that provide a dramatic, tropical look. Forming clumps of deeply lobed foliage, 'Rotlaub' produces tall spikes of small, creamy-white flowers in late spring to early summer, attracting bees and butterflies and creating a delicate contrast to the bold foliage. Thriving in partial to full shade, it is well-suited for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and damp areas, requiring minimal maintenance once established.

Light

Part shade to full shade

Water

High; prefers consistently moist to wet soil

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Hellebores · Japanese forest grass · Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss · Sweet woodruff

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.