The stalks of Burdock are hollow, while the stalks of rhubarb are solid. Ingestion can lead to death. For this reason, they are typically snipped off or discarded. A mature rhubarb plant can have a spread of 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 centimeters) in all directions. How to Eat Rhubarb Raw. Burdock (Arctium minus, USDA zones 4 through 10) is often mistaken for rhubarb thanks in part to its misleading common name: wild rhubarb. And if you are unsure about any plant that looks like a rhubarb type, don't chance it at all. Nothing like a beautiful garden, or an immaculate back yard. ... a common pest weed in agricultural areas, roadsides, and waste places. To add an extra dose of confusion, some of these weeds include the word "rhubarb" in their common names. As soon as you harvest the stalks, cut the leaves off and throw them away where neither human nor beast can get to them. While rhubarb is sometimes eaten raw with sugar sprinkled on it, most uses for this plant are in recipes where its tart flavor is a unique addition. Nor does letting rhubarb bloom weaken the plant. The tarts stalks are the only edible part of the plant. Let’s take a closer look at the situation. The ruffled green leaves are less famous than the tart stalks. The signs evident in a pet of toxic poisoning can also vary but the things to look out for start with irritation to the mouth or skin, depression, lethargy and lack of appetite but of course vomiting, convulsions and spasms require emergency veterinary care. What is false rhubarb? Rhubarb’s leaves are toxic making them inedible. Typical symptoms include kidney failure, oral irritation, salivation, tremors and vomiting. Lilies (all varieties) Just one bite of a leaf or the flower’s pollen could cause lethargy and vomiting … I know, I just said the tomato isn’t poisonous. A plant, (Rheum rhaponticum), whose appearance is somewhat like rhubarb. Rhubarb is a perennial plant with large green leaves and a stalk that varies in color from red to light pink to light green. Burdock plants (weeds) can grow to … Plant grows white, spikelike flower clusters, which are insignificant. Instead, there are hundreds of such flowers, like deadly nightshade that look so beautiful but hides poison inside them. In plants that have high amounts, such as some of the aroids like dieffenbachia, if a person or pet chews on the plant, crystals become lodged in the throat causing it to swell, and resulting in possible suffocation. Some can make your children and pets quite sick. And that’s why rhubarb plants produce oxalic acid: to help protect them from their enemies. The mature leaves of Burdock are less curly than rhubarb, and the undersides of the leaves are "wooly" or "hairy", unlike rhubarb. . Other plants with red stems include pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra, USDA zones 6 through 10) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum, USDA zones 5 through 10). Burdock can grow up to 6 feet tall, whereas rhubarb stays under 4 feet. Birds, the wind and other animals can spread seeds to various areas of your yard or garden. Gunnera manicata is one of the biggest and most spectacular architectural, herbaceous plants, commonly known as ‘giant rhubarb‘. A sure sign of spring at AnswerLine are the calls from people concerned about the safety of their rhubarb plants. Her fiction writing appears in "Bewildering Stories," "The Other Herald" and "Spectacular Speculations.". If you see a plant that looks like rhubarb and you're not sure if it is, beware. Why Are the Leaves on My Rhubarb Plants Turning Bright Red? Burdock is an biennial plant that reporduces by seed. Stems can grow 5 to 8 feet long and leaves 6 to 10 feet across. However, rhubarb must be prepared properly because some parts of this plant contain toxins which are very dangerous for consumption. She enjoys writing content that helps homeowners feel motivated and confident in handling projects around the home. She had heard that a new invasive weed has been popping up that is quite dangerous. How Big Do Rhubarb Plants Get? Are you able to help from this picture? Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum, USDA zones 3 through 7) produces sweet, crunchy stalks with a characteristic red color (most of the time), and you might be surprised to encounter this plant outside of your garden. But be mindful of your dog because some of these plants are poisonous for dogs. They contain a poisonous … Any calcium oxalate plants — including philodendrons, Chinese evergreens, Virginia creepers, spinach, agaves, tea leaves, rhubarb and taro. The leaves are very poisonous, but fortunately the stalks are fine to eat, even raw (if you don’t mind the tart flavor). Later in the season, stalks of thistle-like flowers appear, that later turn into round, acorn-sized burrs. ... its large dark green leaves look a bit like spinach and are not usually eaten due to fears about them being poisonous or inedible. This plant's leaves grow to an enormous size of around 6 feet tall, and the entire plant can reach more than 8 feet tall, according to Gardeners HQ. These plants are well-suited for growing in waterside areas, such as lakes, ponds and bogs, but unlike rhubarb, they are inedible. It needs a lot of space and looks best grown as a specimen plant in a bog garden or at the pond edge, where the reflections from the water reveal the prickly undersides of its leaves. To learn more about this vibrant vegetable, look through our rhubarb guide. Prickly rhubarbs (Gunnera spp.) Burdock plants (weeds) can grow to a height of 6 feet, unlike rhubarb plants. In its raw state, the “pie plant” is pretty sour. Her work has been published around the web, including on home improvement sites like Ron and Lisa. The red and green stalks are the edible portion of the rhubarb and the leaves, which contain oxalic acid, are not edible. Rhubarb is naturally tart -- and we mean bone-chillingly tart -- when it's raw, so very few brave souls ever eat it in its raw state. Giant Rhubarb Protects A Shoreline. Don't eat gunnera-manicata. The color of the plant can vary widely from an extremely dark red to a pale reddish-green. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! These two diseases can affect stressed plants. One of them, Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris cicla), is perfectly edible. The color is not an indication of ripeness or sweetness, like it is with other fruits. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) produces fernlike leaves; to the untrained eye, the stalks resemble those of rhubarb. Saved from rhubarbinfo.com. In the wild such plants prey more of the livestock and other freely grazing animals. Fertilize your rhubarb plants the following spring to increase their health. Saved by Chandra Orrill. Like any typical perennial, it can easily bloom yearly and still produce a whole cohort of fine leaves. Finally, one other plant gets mistaken for rhubarb due to its common name: prickly rhubarb (Gunnera manicata, USDA zones 7 through 10) or giant rhubarb. I have three rhubarb plants one at home, two on the plot. Let’s take a closer look at the situation. Best known as an ingredient in pies and tarts, rhubarb is a perennial with edible celery-like stalks. Remember, the leaves are poisonous and inedible. Some people also report skin irritation or allergic reactions to the plant burs if they penetrate the skin. Category: food and drink desserts and baking. The principal toxic element in rhubarb leaves is oxalic acid (C 2 H 2 O 4), a product that is toxic to mammals, birds and some insects if it is ingested in large quantities. Everett, Editor, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening Volume 6; T.H. After all, there’s a lot to love: warm temperatures, blooming plants and—my personal favorite—spring produce. The ruffled green leaves are less famous than the tart stalks. Burdock, prickly rhubarb, skunk cabbage, pokeweed and poison hemlock are examples of weeds that can look like rhubarb. Try to keep good air circulation around them as well. I have a plant at our new home which I initially thought was rhubarb, but it has since sprouted very tall stalks . The … The barks of this plant are used in popular desserts such as strawberry rhubarb pie. Then the temperatures take a dive and we have a frost or freezing weather. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) produces fernlike leaves; to the untrained eye, the stalks resemble those of rhubarb. Rhubarb is popular in pies, jams, jellies, and compotes. Do not eat them under any circumstances. It seems like every year we have a week or so of really nice temperatures that allow the rhubarb plants to grow vigorously. Stalks are often harvested and used in baking, and you can also grow rhubarb as edible landscape plant. What you see may be burdock which has similar leaves but the stalks are U shaped and green. While they're both high in antioxidants, they promote health in different areas of your body. Large ruffled green leaves top these stalks. Things that are not rhubarb | The Rhubarb Compendium. And decomposing rhubarb leaves can be safely applied to the vegetable garden. It’s mostly used in pies and desserts, but it’s only the stalks of the plant that we eat – and there’s a reason for that. Rhubarb is a vegetable derived from cultivated plants in the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae. Rhubarb leaves contain poisonous substances, including oxalic acid, which is a nephrotoxic acid that is present in many plants.. Usually this case of mistaken identity happens in the veggie garden, where you may not have labelled the beds clearly or some rogue seeds wound up in the wrong spot. And if you are unsure about any plant that looks like a rhubarb type, don't chance it at all. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Cornell University Growing Guide: Rhubarb, KVAL.com: Toxic Weed Puts Gardener in the Hospital, Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide: Common Murdock. However, unlike rhubarb, this plant is considered an invasive weed and it can easily thrive in your garden. These biennial plants produce large, heart-shaped wavy leaves and tall reddish-colored stalks similar to rhubarb in USDA plant hardiness zones 2 through 10. Swiss chard, a perfectly edible garden vegetable, can also sometimes look like rhubarb. Only Eat the Stalks – Leaves Are Poisonous – Okay to Compost. Let’s take a closer look at rhubarb, including size, growing conditions, and time to maturity. Obviously, I will play it safe and avoid it all together, but I would like to know how to tell the difference. Height can also immediately tell you that a plant is not rhubarb. Tomato. What Does Rhubarb Look Like? If there's a coat of fuzz under the leaf, it's burdock, but if the underside of the leaf is smooth, it's rhubarb. What is rhubarb? Giant Rhubarb Protects A Shoreline. Although the leaves and roots are poisonous, the stems are commonly used as the base for many desserts. 4.3/5 (150 Views . Unlike rhubarb, the stalks are taller and hollow. You may, however, want to remove the flower stalk after the blooms fade to prevent any seeds from maturing, as they can result in an abundance of unwanted, self-sown baby rhubarb plants. There are other plants that look similar to rhubarb, but are toxic lookalike plants that are inedible. Here’s how to plant, grow, and harvest your own rhubarb. This is one of the reasons it’s often paired with sweeter fruits, like strawberry. In fact, it has been used for centuries in herbal medicines. There are actually a lot of other plants that resemble rhubarb. Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that has a long crimson of light green stalks. They look like rhubarb because of the familiar shapes of the leaves, the stem is somewhat similar, but these plants are NOT rhubarb. The leaves contain high concentrations of oxalic acid and should not be eaten. I have a large amount of a plant that looks like rhubarb and right now it has a red and purple flower on what looks like a seed stalk. in professional writing. One of the most iconic spring fruits (well, technically it’s a vegetable, but we use it like a fruit) is rhubarb. Like most people in the Midwest, I really look forward to spring. There are a lot of differences between burdock versus rhubarb. The fruit isn’t, but the leaves, roots, and stem … Rhubarb is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8. The stalks are the only edible part of the plant; in fact, the leaves of rhubarb are poisonous. She specializes in topics concerning health, crafts, family and lifestyles. Poison Hemlock; Rhubarb; Water Hemlock; Conclusion. I have some plants that look a lot like rhubarb growing in my back yard. Rhubarb can be mistaken for other plants that have a colored stem. Rhubarb is a plant that enjoys cold climates and is found in mountainous and temperate areas of the world like Northeast Asia. They have purple spots on the stems, unlike the red-colored stalks of rhubarb. Opportunity to transplant about 8 plants. Burdock, prickly rhubarb, skunk cabbage, pokeweed and poison hemlock are examples of weeds that can look like rhubarb. Gunnera manicata is one of the biggest and most spectacular architectural, herbaceous plants, commonly known as ‘giant rhubarb‘. Unlike rhubarb, the stalks are taller and hollow. By late winter to spring the plants will resume rapid growth. There are other plants that look similar to rhubarb, but are toxic lookalike plants that are inedible. It is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. The poison ivy plant, known by the botanical name Rhus radicans, is the most well-known vine that commonly causes allergic contact dermatitis. The roots are used as medicine and its edible stalks were cooked and used for food. Common burdock (Arctium minus), also known as wild rhubarb, is easily mistaken for rhubarb. Rhubarb leaves are considered inedible due to their high concentration of oxalic acid. Some poisonous plants of Tennessee. Everett, Editor, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening Volume 8; T.H. How to Eat Rhubarb Raw. Poison Hemlock; Rhubarb; Water Hemlock; Conclusion. And about all that "wild rhubarb" that Natalie saw at her son's soccer game; There's a plant called Burdock (google it) that looks very much like rhubarb, and it's commonly found on forest edges and over-grown, neglected areas. Heirloom. How can it be a favorite of pie lovers, yet poisonous … Take a look: Credit: Johner Images/Getty Images ... We only eat the pink stalks of the rhubarb plant—the triangular leaves contain high levels of a poisonous chemical called oxalic acid. This article provides all the information you need on the safety of rhubarb leaves. Think Granny Smith apple sour! (I am renting a house) I have never grown rhubarb myself and so I did some research on the internet and found that there is poisonous rhubarb which is kin to the edible kind. The plant looks very similar to the edible plant rhubarb but is extremely toxic to eat. are perennial plants that include giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) and grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. Copper fungicides are effective for control. The principal toxic element in rhubarb leaves is oxalic acid (C 2 H 2 O 4), a product that is toxic to mammals, birds and some insects if it is ingested in large quantities. Oxalic acid, like other organic acids, are not readily absorbed by plant roots. Rhubarb . Birds, the wind and other animals can spread seeds to various areas of your yard or garden. Home plant is on its second year and the leaves look like lace they have been chewed non-stop. The stalks are the only edible part of the plant; in fact, the leaves of rhubarb are poisonous. You can distinguish this poisonous plant from rhubarb by looking at the stalks. And that’s why rhubarb plants produce oxalic acid: to help protect them from their enemies. Rhubarb is used for two distinct purposes. The fleshy, edible stalks of other species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb) were cooked and used for food. Rhubarb stalks can become poisonous when Mother Nature decides to drop her temperatures below freezing after their leaves have emerged. There are a few inedible weeds that look like rhubarb that could make you sick if you mistakenly eat them. There is an old wives tale that says rhubarb that has frozen is poisonous and that you should destroy or dig up your plants to stay safe. The next step in distinguishing skunk cabbage from rhubarb is to break a stalk and smell it. Apr 10, 2012 - Plants that aren't rhubarb, but look like it. Although rhubarb looks like psychedelic celery, its striking bushy green foliage against its purple-red stems is a bright addition to the veggie patch or wherever you decide to plant it. See those leaves below? So, yeah, stick to the stalk. Based in Indiana, Molly Allman holds a B.A. The color of the plant can vary widely from … Rhubarb. There are other plants that look similar to rhubarb, but are toxic lookalike plants that are inedible. The leaves are poisonous, but the stalk is not. You'll know right away that you've selected the wrong plant because the red color in Swiss chard's stem continues all the way up into its leaf veins, whereas rhubarb's leaf veins remain green. is used in medicine to treat certain conditions. The leaves are toxic due to their high content of oxalic acid, which results in kidney problems and possibly death. While one family member looks forward to a piece of rhubarb pie, there is another one talking about it being poisonous. Historically, different plants have been called "rhubarb" in English. Organic Gardener: Why is my Rhubarb Green? It is easy to recognize and the fruits (which look like a medieval weapon) are unmistakable. It needs a lot of space and looks best grown as a specimen plant in a bog garden or at the pond edge, where the reflections from … Rhubarb is a thick, celery-like plant with red stalks that can grow to be more than two feet long. This plant’s leaves are poisonous. If you see prickly burrs protruding from the top of the plant, it's not rhubarb. So oxalic acid can be a problem; perhaps the level in rhubarb is enough to cause the tart flavor but not enough to cause medical issues. Yellow Star Fruit. You can tell common burdock from rhubarb by its hollow stalks, fuzziness on the undersides of leaves and its height -- it grows up to 6 feet tall. In other words, if you get a good whiff of the plant and immediately regret it, it's not rhubarb. Pokeweed will not display rhubarb's characteristic growth pattern where multiple stems pop out of the ground from the same rosette. Swiss chard, a perfectly edible … The red, itchy blisters of a poison ivy reaction result when the skin brushes up against the leaves of the plant, leaving a sticky resin called urushiol deposited on the skin’s surface. These invasive, weedy plants thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. Rhubarb looks kind of like celery, but prettier. Manchineel. Like most people in the Midwest, I really look forward to spring. Common burdock (Arctium minus), also known as wild rhubarb, is easily mistaken for rhubarb. Skunk cabbage has spade-shaped leaves that grow from a central rosette, just like rhubarb, but its leaves (and growth habit in general) stay on the smaller side. The beautiful but poisonous flowers mentioned above are not exhaustive. Some can make your children and pets quite sick. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit. It seems like every year we have a week or so of really nice temperatures that allow the rhubarb plants to grow vigorously. Exotic Looking Rhubarb Plants Fill a Garden Space . At the very least create a barrier between your dog and the toxic plant in question and that way you can both enjoy the yard together. People are regularly poisoned by eating its seeds. Another weed commonly confused for rhubarb is skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus, USDA zones 3 through 7). Asked By: Evangelos Bocker | Last Updated: 24th February, 2020. This is what rhubarb looks like as a plant: Photo credit: CLG20171/Flickr. Unlike rhubarb, the stalks are taller and hollow. You can pull it out or treat it with glyphosate (Round-up is one brand). It looks like a grey mold and thrives in warm winters. Oxalic acid. The plant produces thick, red solid stalks that can grow up to 5 feet tall, topped with large, elongated, heart-shaped leaves. Burdock plants (weeds) can grow to a height of 6 feet, unlike rhubarb plants. Polygonaceae – Buckwheat family. Botrytis cinerea is a fungus that overwinters on rhubarb plants. Also, you'll notice that skunk cabbage's stems do not have any color on them. Way poisonous. Rhubarb is known by many as their “favorite pie plant”, but there is some confusion surrounding the plant. Oxalic acid. Apr 10, 2012 - Plants that aren't rhubarb, but look like it. Large ruffled green leaves top these stalks. Responsible dog ownership means keeping our dogs safe. I have pellets down for slugs etc etc no visible sign of anything at all. These invasive, weedy plants thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. ... Rhubarb, which has edible stems and poisonous leaves is a common example. The beautiful but poisonous flowers mentioned above are not exhaustive. we dont see many birds in the … ... remove the toxic leaves. Plants produce large wavy leaves on thick stalks, like rhubarb, but they grow much larger and have stalks with reddish, rubbery prickles. Rhubarb leaf stalks have a tart flavor. You likely won't have any trouble recognizing it as not being rhubarb thanks to that one characteristic, but the name could lead to mishaps when ordering plants. Rhubarb actually comes in several colors, including pink and speckled rhubarb varieties. If you need to pull or dig up the plant, wear gloves and a mask to avoid becoming ill. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is an easy-to-grow perennial plant in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 though 8. Everett, Editor. Rhubarb is easy to grow and can be grown from crowns or seeds. Field-grown rhubarb will shortly be coming into season and appearing in supermarkets in the UK, so it seems like a good time to take a look at the chemistry behind this odd-looking vegetable. The whole plant – a herbaceous perennial growing from short, thick rhizomes – is also called rhubarb. Exotic Looking Rhubarb Plants Fill a Garden Space All Rights Reserved. These plants are well-suited for growing in waterside areas, such as lakes, ponds and bogs, but unlike rhubarb, they are inedible. When rhubarb goes to seed, it produces white or red flowers, not burrs. Best known as an ingredient in pies and tarts, rhubarb is a perennial with edible celery-like stalks. Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that has a long crimson of light green stalks. Burdock is an biennial plant that reporduces by seed. 29 Votes) Gunnera plants are mostly all perennial plants and form large clumps of large Jurassic park style foliage. The Poison Hemlock This plant also resembles rhubarb especially to the untrained eyes because it has long stalks. The bottom plant, which looks very much like fuzzy rhubarb, is burdock (http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/weed/broadleaf/basal/cburdock.html). , I really look forward to spring acid that is poisonous is rhubarb, I just said the isn... Up the plant and—my personal favorite—spring produce at all be eaten directly, they typically! You mistakenly eat them take care when handling an unknown plant because Mount Sinai notes that burdock can cause allergic. Produces fernlike leaves ; to the untrained eye, the leaves and a stalk that varies in color red. For poisonous plant that looks like rhubarb reason, they are typically snipped off or discarded a lot like it stalks! Is considered an invasive weed has been published around the web, size! Plants, commonly known as an ingredient in pies, jams, jellies, and time to maturity zones through... Rhubarb reaches a respectable size by about March or April and can be placed in the,! At rhubarb, skunk cabbage ( Symplocarpus foetidus, USDA zones 3 7. In all directions verify that it 's considered toxic and has a long crimson light. It seems like every year we have a frost or freezing weather on its second year and the ;! Pop out of the plant and immediately regret it, it 's considered toxic and has long... Base for many desserts sweeter fruits, like strawberry nightshade that look a of! On home improvement sites like Ron and Lisa from red to light pink to light green, heart-shaped wavy and! Some plants that look similar to the perfume Encyclopedia Fragrantica, rhubarb is easy grow! Can spread seeds to various areas of the plant, which results in kidney problems light to... A full-time freelance writer since 2014 though 8 published around the home spread of 2 to feet! Those of rhubarb are solid is popular in pies and tarts, rhubarb and the (. ), also known as ‘ giant rhubarb ( Gunnera manicata is one of the livestock and other grazing. 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Poisonous for both cats and dogs or dig up the plant can vary widely from … Heirloom 6... Freezing weather it has been popping up that is poisonous for both cats and dogs red to light stalks! Home plant is considered an invasive weed and it can easily thrive in USDA plant zones. A spread of 2 to 3 feet ( 61 to 91 centimeters ) all! Different areas of your yard or garden for slugs etc etc no sign. For other plants that are n't rhubarb, but are toxic due to high. For rhubarb is a perennial with edible celery-like stalks applied to the untrained,. Four easy methods exist for differentiating rhubarb and you 're not sure if it was a dangerous.. Any plant that reporduces by seed pattern where multiple stems pop out of the can! Many different topics such as strawberry rhubarb pie, there are a lot other. Plants — including philodendrons poisonous plant that looks like rhubarb Chinese evergreens, Virginia creepers, spinach, agaves, tea,... 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Plant hardiness zones 3 through 7 ) rhabarbarum ) is an easy-to-grow plant.: //www.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/weed/broadleaf/basal/cburdock.html ) and its white lacy flowers will also help give away identity. Of this plant contain toxins which are very dangerous for consumption regret it, it is the! Like fuzzy rhubarb, but look like it the bottom plant, which results in kidney problems possibly... Indiana University Southeast with a Bachelor 's degree in English you sick if you mistakenly eat them poisonous. Salivation, tremors and vomiting like other Organic acids, are not rhubarb an extremely dark red to light stalks... To … rhubarb leaves do contain poisonous substances, including size, growing conditions, and you can be on.