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Why Is My Rhubarb Flowering & What Should I Do?

Rhubarb bud growing amidst a rhubarb plant.
Stunning and unusual, I give you – the rhubarb flower.

I’ll bet I can guess why you’re here.

You went out to your rhubarb patch with pie on your mind. And when you got there, nestled among the familiar leaves the size of an elephant’s ear, you found this bizarre alien stalk growing up from the midst of your rhubarb.

Once you recovered from the shock and took a closer look, you realized, “Huh, so that’s a rhubarb flower. I didn’t even know they flowered. Are they supposed to do that?”

Overhead view of rhubarb bud.
Help! There’s an alien in my rhubarb patch!

Yup, rhubarb plants are supposed to flower, that is, if you want rhubarb seeds.

But I don’t think you want rhubarb seeds; they make terrible pie. You want plenty of those magenta tart stalks for pie, jam, and all kinds of other delicious rhubarb treats. So, when your rhubarb plant flowers, immediate action is needed to preserve your rhubarb crop.

Let’s look at why rhubarb flowers, what steps need to be taken, and finally what you can do to prevent them from doing so in the future.

Rhubarb plant with a tall rhubarb flower stalk growing from its center.
Note the large flower stalk and how few leaves there are.

Self Preservation

Every plant’s goal is to continue to make more of itself. Let’s face it; all plants are bent on world domination, even your rhubarb. When a rhubarb plant flowers, it’s going to seed or bolting. For whatever reason, the plant has decided to create more of itself via a flower that will release seeds.

A beautiful Victorian variety of rhubarb.

While this is perfectly normal, and all plants will do it eventually, some factors will trigger a plant to flower. For instance, heirloom varieties of rhubarb are more likely to bolt than modern hybrids. Rhubarb is also a cool-weather-loving plant, so an especially hot spring may cause your rhubarb to bolt. Of course, stress from an infestation of pests or disease can cause rhubarb to go to seed as well.

Cutting Your Rhubarb Flower

Because you don’t want seeds and want rhubarb stalks instead, you need to remove the rhubarb flower as soon as possible. This will let the plant know that it needs to make more leaves, not flowers.

Hands using a knife to cut off the flowering stalk of a rhubarb plant at the crown.
Cut as close to the crown as you can.

Whenever you’re cutting or pruning your plants, you want to start with clean, sharp tools. A clean cut ensures the plant will heal quickly, which lessens the likelihood of disease.

Cut the flowering stalk or stalks as close to the crown as you can get. You may have to shove a few of those large leaves out of the way to get down to the crown.

If you leave too much of the stalk present, it can rot and, left unchecked reach the crown, causing the loss of the plant. Not to mention, slugs and insects may decide to come and munch on the leftover stalk, again causing damage to the plant.

How to Prevent Your Rhubarb from Flowering

Overhead view of a tightly closed rhubarb bud.
Catch them while they’re small.

The best way to keep rhubarb from going to seed is to divide older plants. Making ‘new’ plants by dividing a more mature plant has a way of rejuvenating each new section.

If your rhubarb patch is five years or older and has begun to flower, that’s a good sign that it’s ready to divide, which is great news because spring is a great time to divide your rhubarb patch. However, if you haven’t finished harvesting yet, you may want to wait until the fall to divide the crowns.

It Is a Flower After All

Vase full of rhubarb flowers.
Don’t let those buds go to waste.

While most folks pitch their rhubarb stalks that have begun to go to seed, consider enjoying it for the stunning flower it is. They truly are an incredibly beautiful part of the plant. Place the cut stems in a heavy-bottomed vase with a few small leaves for an incredible floral statement.

Can I Save the Seeds?

If you’ve lopped off the flowering stalk at the appropriate time, no. You won’t be able to save the seeds, as they won’t be developed. Remember that we want to cut off these stalks as soon as we find them specifically to prevent the plant from putting too much energy into developing the seeds.

Close up of white rhubarb flowers.

Besides, although you can grow rhubarb from seed, it takes a couple of years for the crown to develop to the point where you can harvest from it. Growing rhubarb from an established crown is the fastest way to go.

What If My Rhubarb Has Never Flowered?

Perhaps you’re just here out of curiosity. Or your neighbor mentioned their rhubarb flowered; now you’re wondering if there’s something wrong with yours. (I’m sure your rhubarb is just fine.)

Only older, more mature rhubarb plants tend to flower. If your rhubarb crown is less than three or four years old, it’s unlikely it will flower. It also depends on the variety; as previously mentioned, some are more prone to bolting than others.

You can consider yourself lucky if you’ve never seen a flowering rhubarb stalk in your rhubarb patch. It’s one less spring chore to do. Speaking of chores, have you taken care of your spring rhubarb chores yet?

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Tracey Besemer

Hey there, my name is Tracey. I’m the editor-in-chief here at Rural Sprout.

Many of our readers already know me from our popular Sunday newsletters. (You are signed up for our newsletters, right?) Each Sunday, I send a friendly missive from my neck of the woods in Pennsylvania. It’s a bit like sitting on the front porch with a friend, discussing our gardens over a cup of tea.

Originally from upstate NY, I’m now an honorary Pennsylvanian, having lived here for the past 18 years.

I grew up spending weekends on my dad’s off-the-grid homestead, where I spent much of my childhood roaming the woods and getting my hands dirty.

I learned how to do things most little kids haven’t done in over a century.

Whether it was pressing apples in the fall for homemade cider, trudging through the early spring snows of upstate NY to tap trees for maple syrup, or canning everything that grew in the garden in the summer - there were always new adventures with each season.

As an adult, I continue to draw on the skills I learned as a kid. I love my Wi-Fi and knowing pizza is only a phone call away. And I’m okay with never revisiting the adventure that is using an outhouse in the middle of January.

These days, I tend to be almost a homesteader.

I take an eclectic approach to homesteading, utilizing modern convenience where I want and choosing the rustic ways of my childhood as they suit me.

I’m a firm believer in self-sufficiency, no matter where you live, and the power and pride that comes from doing something for yourself.

I’ve always had a garden, even when the only space available was the roof of my apartment building. I’ve been knitting since age seven, and I spin and dye my own wool as well. If you can ferment it, it’s probably in my pantry or on my kitchen counter. And I can’t go more than a few days without a trip into the woods looking for mushrooms, edible plants, or the sound of the wind in the trees.

You can follow my personal (crazy) homesteading adventures on Almost a Homesteader and Instagram as @aahomesteader.

Peace, love, and dirt under your nails,

Tracey
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