Plants That Look Like Rhubarb

If you love the dramatic look of rhubarb but want more options, you’re in the right place. Many plants that look like rhubarb can give your garden that same bold, leafy effect without the culinary commitment. These large, leafy garden varieties offer incredible texture and form, creating instant focal points in your landscape. Let’s look at some of the best stand-ins that will make your garden look lush and vibrant.

This group of plants shares common traits: huge, often textured leaves on sturdy stalks, and a commanding presence. They thrive in similar conditions—rich soil, consistent moisture, and often, a bit of shade. Here are the top contenders to consider for your garden.

Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Often mistaken for wild rhubarb, burdock is a biennial with very large, heart-shaped leaves. The first-year growth is mostly a low rosette of leaves, which can be massive. It’s important to note that burdock is considered a weed in many areas and its burs can be a nusance. It’s not typically planted intentionally in ornamental gardens, but it’s a common lookalike you might encounter.

Leaf Shape: Broad, heart-shaped, fuzzy undersides.
Key Difference: Produces sticky burs (seed pods) in its second year.
Growing Tip: If you want to grow it, contain it in a pot to prevent it from spreading.

Gunnera (Gunnera manicata)

Known as the “dinosaur food” plant, gunnera is the ultimate rhubarb lookalike on a gigantic scale. Its leaves can reach an incredible 6 to 8 feet across on prickly stalks. This plant makes a jaw-dropping statement in damp, sheltered spots. It’s not as cold-hardy as rhubarb and needs winter protection in colder zones.

Leaf Shape: Enormous, rounded, deeply lobed, and very textured.
Key Difference: Leaves are much, much larger than any rhubarb variety.
Growing Tip: Plant in a boggy area or near a pond. Mulch the crown heavily in autumn.

Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)

For an edible option, look no further than certain varieties of Swiss chard. The ‘Rhubarb Chard’ cultivar, with its deep red stems and dark green, crumpled leaves, provides a perfect, harvestable double. It gives you the look and a continuous crop of greens throughout the season.

Leaf Shape: Large, dark green, and slightly crumpled or savoyed.
Key Difference: It’s a leafy green vegetable harvested for its leaves and stems.
Growing Tip: Succession sow seeds every few weeks for a non-stop supply.

Brazilian Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria)

A slightly smaller relative of G. manicata, this gunnera species is still impressively large. It has more rounded, lobed leaves with a crinkled surface. Like it’s bigger cousin, it thrives in moist, rich soil and can become invasive in ideal climates, so check it’s suitability for your region.

Japanese Butterbur (Petasites japonicus)

This plant forms colonies of huge, circular leaves on tall stalks, creating a tropical effect. The leaves can be over three feet across. Be warned: it’s a vigorous spreader in wet soil. It’s best used in large, wild gardens where it can roam, or planted with a solid root barrier.

Leaf Shape: Nearly perfectly round, shield-shaped leaves.
Key Difference: Leaves are more circular than rhubarb’s typical heart-shape.
Growing Tip: Absolutely requires constant moisture and can be invasive.

How to Choose and Grow These Lookalikes

Selecting the right plant depends on your space, climate, and goals. Follow these steps to make the best choice and ensure it thrives.

Step 1: Assess Your Space and Conditions

First, look at the spot where you want the plant. How much sun does it get? Is the soil consistently damp? Measure the avilable space, both in width and height. A gunnera needs a small pond’s worth of space, while rhubarb chard fits neatly into a vegetable bed.

Step 2: Decide on Your Purpose

Ask yourself: Do I want a permanent architectural specimen, or an edible plant? Is a controlled clump okay, or am I prepared to manage a potential spreader? This will quickly narrow your options. For low maintenance, stick to clump-forming plants like ornamental rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).

Step 3: Prepare the Planting Site

Almost all these plants demand rich soil. Amend your planting hole generously with well-rotted compost or manure. Good drainage is important, but moisture retention is key. For the giant varieties, improving a large area, not just a single hole, is best for root development.

Step 4: Planting and Initial Care

Plant at the same depth it was growing in its pot. Water deeply immediately after planting. Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the soil consistently damp, not soggy, for the first growing season while the plant establishes.

Caring for Your Large-Leafed Plants

Ongoing care is simple but crucial for maintaining those impressive leaves.

Watering: Deep, regular watering is essential, especially during dry spells. Large leaves lose a lot of water.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost in spring.
Mulching: Replenish mulch annually to feed the soil and conserve moisture.
Winter Care: For tender varieties like gunnera, after frost blackens the leaves, cut them down and use them to cover the crown. Mound dry leaves or straw on top for insulation.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even these sturdy plants can have issues. Slugs and snails adore the tender new growth of many large-leaf varieties. Use organic slug bait or beer traps to protect young plants. Leaf scorch can occur if the plant gets to much hot afternoon sun or if the soil dries out. Provide shade or increase watering. Poor growth usually indicates hungry plants. Feed them more.

Design Ideas for Your Garden

Use these plants as living sculptures. Place one at the bend in a path to create a surprise. Pair them with fine-textured plants, like grasses or ferns, for stunning contrast. Line a walkway with a row of Swiss chard for a decorative edible border. Use a single gunnera as the centerpiece of a rain garden or damp corner.

FAQs About Rhubarb Lookalikes

What plant is commonly mistaken for rhubarb?

Burdock is the most common plant mistaken for wild rhubarb. Its large, coarse leaves look similar from a distance, but it produces burs and is not typically cultivated for eating.

Are there any poisonous plants that resemble rhubarb?

Yes, this is very important. Poison hemlock and foxglove can have somewhat similar leaf forms in their early stages. Never forage or eat a plant unless you are 100% certain of its identification. Rhubarb leaves themselves are poisonous due to oxalic acid.

What is the giant plant that looks like rhubarb?

That’s almost certainly a Gunnera species, like Gunnera manicata. It’s often called “giant rhubarb” due to its massive, textured leaves on thick, spiky stalks.

Can I eat all plants that look like garden rhubarb?

Absolutely not. Only true rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) and certain cultivars like rhubarb chard are grown for consumption. Many lookalikes, like burdock, have edible parts but require specific preparation, while others are toxic. Always verify the species first.

Adding plants that look like rhubarb is a fantastic way to inject drama and structure into your garden. Whether you choose a monstrous gunnera for a wet spot or a row of colorful chard for your edible plot, these large-leaf varieties guarantee a lush, vibrant feel. With the right selection and simple care, you can enjoy their spectacular foliage for seasons to come.