Plant Details

Rheum australe

Himalayan Rhubarb

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Rheum australe.

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Common names

8 names · 8 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Himalayan Rhubarb
Other languages (7)
Dutch
  • Sierrabarber
French
  • Rhubarbe de l'Himalaya
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 藏边大黄[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 藏邊大黃[1]
Finnish
  • himalajanraparperi[1]
Polish
  • Rabarbar Emoda[1]
Slovak
  • rebarbora himalájska[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Rheum australe — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • 藏邊大黃 — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 793350; Rheum australe.
  • 藏边大黄 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 793350; Rheum australe.
  • Rabarbar Emoda — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 793350; Rheum australe.
  • himalajanraparperi — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 793350; Rheum australe.
  • rebarbora himalájska — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 793350; Rheum australe.

General information

Scientific name: Rheum australe
Accepted name (Kew): Rheum australe D.Don View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Polygonaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rheum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Himalayan Rhubarb

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 1.50 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Stem, kleur, rutine
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye

Description

Leaf stalk - raw or cooked. This plant has an excellent flavor, comparable to that of apples. The crops are sometimes blanched by keeping light away from the growing stalks. This results in almost white stalks that are free from fibers, fresh, and less sour. This plant species is ideal for late harvesting. The stalks can be preserved or dried for later use. It is reported that the plant contains 0.32% rutin. It is unclear which part of the plant contains this, but it is most likely the leaves.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 152966; name ID 2425630; Rheum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 555177; name ID 2425643; Rheum australe D.Don.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rheum australe

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1129496, ID 4S69W: Rheum australe D.Don (accepted).

    Source checked on .