Darmera peltata syn. peltiphyllum AGM

The common name for this plant is Umbrella Plant or Indian Rhubarb. It is a native of USA where it inhabits streams and bogs. Its Latin name ‘Darmera’ is so named after Karl Darmer a 19th century German horticulturalist. The ‘Peltata’ word tells us that each leaf rises out of the rhizome on a long petiole (stalk) which attaches to the centre of the leaf. The leaf then has a large cup shape in which pools of rain water collect. The other unusual thing to look out for is the flower which comes in spring, before the leaves and is rounded, pink and on thick, hairy stems rather like drum sticks.