Darmera peltata

Darmera peltata, Indian Rhubarb, is an extraordinary and spectacular plant with large attractively-veined, circular-shaped, indented foliage that lends a very exotic and tropical atmosphere to the garden. It forms an impressive large clump and the big cup-shaped leaves are held aloft on tall stems and tend to catch the rainwater which adds to the tropical ambience.

It prefers moist boggy soils and does very well as a water marginal or pond-side plant but in the wet British climate it can also be situated in much drier situations giving a sense of primeval drama to any garden. It is particularly appropriate in a jungle planting where its large leaves form a counterpoint to bamboos, palms and the equally indispensible Fatsia japonica. A native of the American Northwest it is a fully hardy herbaceous perrenial, its leaves turning many autumnal shades of gold, red and purple before dying back in the winter.

In early spring the cycle starts once again with a show of startlingly beautiful flowers: globular clusters of whitish-pink stars arising from the bare soil and held aloft on tall elongated stems. These are followed by the vigourous growth of the foliage, rapidly unfurling from the growing crown and throwing the lush green young leaves higher with each new day.

Darmera peltata will create a good-sized clump and needs a large space so that it doesn't looked confined or cramped - although it is not as demanding on space as the much larger Gunnera manicata which it is sometimes compared to.

It is a gorgeous triffid-like thing, fantastically exotic and - if you have the room - an essential must-have plant ...