shopping Rhubarb root - two varieties
Rhubarb root powder image
[ 5029 ]Rheum Officinale

Rhubarb Root Powder

1/4 Pound:  $4.07 Pound:  $8.84 
Rhubarb root, c/s image
[ 712 ]Rheum officinalis

Rhubarb Root Cut & Sifted

1/4 Pound:  $4.36 Pound:  $9.66 
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Wholesale Rhubarb root

Rheum officinalis
plant overview
ancient traveler of the silk road

Rhubarb is a leafy green that is related to buckwheat and is considered both a vegetable and a fruit in the U.S. The leaf is generally discarded because it often contains unsafe levels of oxalic acid, but the pink-colored petiole, or stalk, is traditionally cooked in sugar as a pie filling. The rhubarb root, which contains emodin and other anthraquinones, is highly valued in Asian culture. Rhubarb root, referred to in China as da-Huang, is harvested from mature plants that are between five and ten years old. The root is then carefully dried for rhubarb root uses that include making tinctures and extracts. Where to get rhubarb roots for sale, wholesale? Our rhubarb roots for sale come in ¼ pound and full pound quantities.

Clicking "learn more" next to each variety will take you to individual product pages for details.

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information about rhubarb

description
Rheum palmatum is a member of the Polygonaceae family. Its rather large leaves are jagged and hand-shaped, and will grow to at least two to three feet wide. It can produce a jointed stalk as high as a six to ten feet, with loosely branched clusters of flowers along the tips. These mature to a red color from their often yellow or white blooms. The plant has rather thick, deep roots.

common names & nomenclature
The name rhubarb comes from the late Middle English, from Old French reubarbe, from a shortening of medieval Latin rheubarbarum, alteration (by association with rheum ‘rhubarb’) of rhabarbarum meaning ‘foreign rhubarb,’ from the Greek rha (also meaning ‘rhubarb’) + barbaros meaning ‘foreign.’

Also known as:
Turkish rhubarb, Turkey rhubarb, Chinese rhubarb, Indian rhubarb, Russian rhubarb, rhubarb root, da-huang

Rhubarb Root, the ancient traveler of the silk road

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for rhubarb

Rheum palmatum is native in the regions of western China, northern Tibet, and the Mongolian Plateau, cultivated widely in many parts of the world.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

climate
Grows often in scrub, rocky places and by streams, 2500 - 4000 meters high. Can also grow on slopes and valleys at elevations of 1500 - 4400 meters in full to part sun.

soil
Prefers a well-drained soil.

growing
Sow seed in autumn in a shaded cold frame. The seed can also be sown in spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, transplant the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in the spring. Can also be divided in early spring or autumn. Divide up the rootstock with a sharp spade or knife, making sure that there is at least one growth bud on each division. Larger divisions can be planted out directly into their permanent garden locations.

harvesting
The roots are harvested in October from plants that are at least six years old, they are then dried for later use.

preserving
Store dried rhubarb root pieces in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

worth noting
The leaf is generally discarded because it often contains unsafe levels of oxalic acid.

04.
The Rest of the Story

additional information

rhubarb—it's really big
Medicinal rhubarb is a large, leafy perennial that reaches 10 feet. Its root is thick and branching, brown on the outside and yellow inside. Its stems are Nate in branching spikes of numerous small flowers. The medicinal species are not garden herbs.

Garden rhubarb reaches only 3 feet. It has thick roots, reddish outside, yellow inside, and purple stems. Garden rhubarb is considered less potent in herbal healing. If you use it medicinally be prepared to adjust amounts upward.

Garden rhubarb requires a dormant period in winter and does not do well in the south, where winters are warm. Sow seeds or root cuttings 4 feet apart in late spring in deeply dug, well-watered beds under full sun or partial shade. Add compost and mulch in winter. Harvest stems for pies the second year, roots the fourth.

Formulas & recipes
Rhubarb root recipes
Although rhubarb is a leafy green, the actual leaves are toxic, which is why the root and stems are the only part of the plant that can be used for culinary purposes. Rhubarb root benefits the immune system and other parts of the body with its high antioxidant content. Rhubarb root extract and rhubarb root tea are two common ways to ingest the benefits of the herb. While the root is great for more diluted products, it is the stems of the rhubarb plant that are used for pies and other foods.

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for educational purposes only

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

please be advised:  Before making any changes to your diet you should always consult with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or have existing conditions.

All reviews solely reflect the views and opinions expressed by the reviewer and not that of Monterey Bay Herb Co. We do not verify or endorse any claims made by any reviewer. None of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.