Rheum palmatum 'Red Herald'

A large rhizomatous perennial to 2.5m high, with basal leaves up to 90cm across that emerge from the ground in late spring. Leaves are broad, lobed and coarsely toothed, deep red when young, and mature to deep green with dark red undersides and long, thick reddish stems. In summer, tall, branching flower stems bear upright clusters of tiny, densely packed red flowers