VegetableRhubarb
Canadian Red Rhubarb
Canadian Red Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that earns its name from the deep crimson stalks that define this hardy northern cultivar. Growing 24 inches tall and spreading to a mature 36-inch spacing, it thrives in zones 4 through 9 and takes a full year to establish before its first harvest. The rich, sweet, and juicy stalks make this a standout choice for gardeners seeking a reliable, cold-hardy rhubarb that produces year after year once established.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Rich, Well-drained Loam With Good Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The deep red coloring runs throughout the stalks, delivering both visual appeal and a notably sweet character that sets it apart from paler varieties. Canadian Red lives up to its northern heritage by powering through zone 4 winters without flinching. Once this perennial is established in full sun, it demands little beyond basic attention, rewarding patient gardeners with a decade or more of productive harvests from a single planting.
Common Uses
The stalks are harvested and used in the kitchen much like traditional rhubarb, prized for pies, jams, compotes, and other cooked preparations where their natural sweetness shines. The abundance of juice in these stalks makes them particularly suited to beverages and preserves.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Rhubarb crowns (not seeds) are the standard way to establish this variety. Plant crowns in early spring or fall when the soil is cool and moist. Set each crown so the topmost buds sit just at or slightly above soil level; planting too deep can rot the crown. Water thoroughly after planting to settle soil around the roots.
Harvesting
Canadian Red Rhubarb requires patience; resist the urge to harvest during the first growing season. Beginning in the second year, harvest stalks once they reach a usable size, grasping them near the base and pulling with a gentle twist to separate them from the crown. The deep red color throughout the stalks is a visual signal of maturity and excellent flavor. Harvest by pulling individual stalks rather than cutting to avoid leaving behind stub wounds that can harbor disease. Continue harvesting through spring and early summer, but stop by mid to late summer to allow the plant to rebuild reserves for next year.
Pruning
Remove flower stalks as they emerge to redirect energy into edible stalk production. Cutting away spent foliage in late fall helps tidy the plant as it heads into dormancy.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Rheum rhabarbarum ‘Canada Red’
Family
Polygonaceae
Genus
Rheum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Canadian Red Rhubarb carries its geography in its name, developed and refined in Canada's cool climate regions where hardy perennials thrive. The variety reflects generations of selection for cold hardiness and flavor quality in northern gardens, earning its place as a trusted choice for gardeners in colder zones who wanted a rhubarb they could count on year after year.”