Rhubarb is available in many different species. Here at The Rhubarb Compendium we are primarily concerned with common garden rhubarb, Rheum x cultorum. Below you will find a list of common, and some not so common, rhubarbs. Not all of these are suitable for making pies and tarts. Many are strictly for ornamental use.

• Rheum acuminatum - Ornamental Rhubarb

This plant likes to grow in or near water, in summer it has red seedpods. It is disease-free and hardy all across the country (Canada). Low mounds of heavily veined leaves, rich red petioles, and upright, branched and spidery stems or red flowers to 4 feet (1.25 m). Adaptive to full sun or partial shade in rather rich, humus. Cut it hard back after flowering to rejuvenate foliage for the remaining season. Excellent autumn tones of red in full sun.

• Rheum alexandrae - Ornamental Rhubarb

An ornamental rhubarb. Spikes of flowers rising to 3-4 feet (1-1.25 m) completely shielded by large, translucent white bracts, and in autumn, spectacular red autumn color.

• Rheum alpinum - European Wild Rhubarb

Leaves used for wrapping cheeses, rhizomes used as pig food.

• Rheum altaicum

• Rheum australe - Himalayan rhubarb

Seven foot (2 meter) long stems have yellow flowers in late spring-summer. Red stems with large greenish red, heart-shaped leaves.