Rhubarb Flowers

It’s very early spring and you walk out to your rhubarb patch for the first time since last Fall and gasp:  Your rhubarb has already bolted. Usually when edible plants go to seed it’s the end of those plants, at least for that season.  But when it happens to rhubarb there are three things you should know:

#1  Don’t panic.  

#2  Don’t throw in the towel on your rhubarb.  

#3  Everything’s going to be just fine.

In fact, discovering rhubarb seed pods and rhubarb flower stalks is perfectly normal.

What Causes Rhubarb To Bolt?

There are a few reasons why your rhubarb plants may be bolting:  Seed pods and flower stalks usually don’t grow on younger rhubarb plants but they are common on more mature plants that are at least 3 years old.  Our rhubarb plants have been tended by one homeowner after the other for the past 100 years!  And we get several flower stalks per rhubarb plant.  Dividing the crowns of mature plants every few years resets the maturity clock so to speak and reduces flowering.

Another factor that influences the growth of flower stalks is the variety of rhubarb.  Some are more likely to flower than others.  Old-fashioned varieties such as Victoria and MacDonald continuously produce seed pods whereas other varieties like Canada Red and Valentine are less likely to bolt.  These and other modern varieties are bred to flower less often.

Heat can also cause rhubarb to bolt.  Rhubarb does best in cool weather and if you’re having a particularly warm Spring it can cause the rhubarb to bolt. Be sure to give your rhubarb plant adequate water.

Other stressors can also cause rhubarb to bolt, such as insect or animal damage to the leaves or a lack of nutrients.

What Do I Do When My Rhubarb Has Bolted?

Rhubarb flowers are pretty and it’s almost a shame to cut them down.  Do you have to?  No, they won’t actually harm the plant.  Nor will they affect the flavor of the rhubarb. But they will greatly limit your harvest.   

The simple reason is that it takes a plant a lot of energy to produce flowers and seeds and that is energy is being diverted from producing the actual edible stalks.  A rhubarb plant that is allowed to go to seed won’t yield as large of a harvest as it otherwise would have. 

won’t actually harm the plant.  Nor will they affect the flavor of the rhubarb. But they will greatly limit your harvest.   

The simple reason is that it takes a plant a lot of energy to produce flowers and seeds and that is energy is being diverted from producing the actual edible stalks.  A rhubarb plant that is allowed to go to seed won’t yield as large of a harvest as it otherwise would have.

Heat can also cause rhubarb to bolt.  Rhubarb does best in cool weather and if you’re having a particularly warm Spring it can cause the rhubarb to bolt. Be sure to give your rhubarb plant adequate water.

Other stressors can also cause rhubarb to bolt, such as insect or animal damage to the leaves or a lack of nutrients.

Still, even when all proper care and precautions are taken, it’s very natural for rhubarb plants to bolt.

Ideally you really want to avoid letting your rhubarb plant even get to the point where there are flower stalks.

Initially these long shoots start off as a seed pod at the base of the plant. As soon as you notice these seed pods remove them.

Growing up in Alaska, my mom had a tons of these growing along the backside of the house. I remembering having them year round (because of the mild summers). It was one of the few plants to survive the moose. 

I have a one rhubarb plant currently (definitely need a few more)! I actually think this is the second time it's bolted and I didn't know, so I let it going. My harvest was smaller then previous years. I cut it all the way down.I had not bloomed so hopefully I caught it in time.  

I would love the hear your experience with your rhubarb.

Until next time

Hayley D.

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