A new rhubarb called KangaRhu is a recipient of a 2020 Green Thumb Award given out by the Direct Gardening Association. The awards are chosen by garden writers who judge garden plants and products on uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to solve a garden problem and their appeal to gardeners. It makes me happy to see a fruitable (my word for a plant that’s both a fruit and a vegetable) such as rhubarb win an award—especially a fruitable that conjures up question marks in the minds of most people.

What Makes KangaRhu Unique

This KangaRhu rhubarb is the result of nearly 10 years of development at Gurneys Seed and Nursery Company. According to Gurneys, KangaRhu offers “outstanding quality and superior summer production.” That alone is quite a statement as rhubarb is generally a mid to late spring producer. KangaRhu, however, is unique in its ability to grow well where warm summer nights have typically restricted other rhubarb varieties.

Gurneys went to the ends of the earth to make KangaRhu a viable rhubarb alternative for places with hot summers. They went to Australia, a punishing gardening environment, to find rhubarb genetics that allow for heat tolerance. KangaRhu’s heat tolerance allows you to harvest deep into summer when other rhubarb varieties have either bolted, browned or plain-old succumbed to the heat.

Not only is KangaRhu heat tolerant, it has some of the darkest red stalks on the market. Many varieties available nowadays are either all green or a combo of green and some red. Imagine the prettiness of the pies and juice you can make with KangaRhu! And Gurneys claims it’s got a taste that is above and beyond whatever has been previously available.

How to Grow KangaRhu Rhubarb

Plant the bareroot KangaRhu segments/divisions 3-4 inches below the soil surface in early spring or fall, about 2-3 feet apart. KangaRhu will grow to be about 24-30 inches tall. When you see think flowering stalks emerge from the plant’s center, remove that at the base to extend harvest. KangaRhu will do well in full sun to partial shade in Zones 4-8. Rhubarb will do well without frequent watering and will grow like gangbusters if given plenty of water. Rhubarb also appreciates loamy soil.