How often to water umbrella plant in California
In July in the Central Valley, established umbrella plant in loam needs a deep watering about every 3 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 3.0 gallons a week. Umbrella plant, also called Indian rhubarb, is a rhizomatous perennial native to the western United States that forms big clumps up to 5 feet tall. Its glossy, round leaves reach 18 inches across and turn red in autumn. Clusters of pale pink flowers rise on tall stems before the leaves, and it grows in moist or boggy soil in sun or part shade.
How often to water umbrella plant, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Soil that feels only damp, not wet, an inch down beside the clump in summer means umbrella plant needs water
- Big leaves wilting or folding in afternoon heat point to too little water
- Leaf edges browning and crisping in summer suggest the soil has dried
- Leaves turning red in autumn is normal color before winter dieback
How to water it
- Keep the soil constantly moist to wet through the growing season
- Water slowly so the whole root zone stays saturated
- Plant at a pond or stream edge, or in a bog bed
- Grow it in full sun or part shade
- Divide crowded clumps in spring
Through the seasons
Keep a new planting wet from the start, since its roots need constant moisture. Established clumps still need wet soil all through the growing season. Flowers come in spring before the leaves, the leaves color red in autumn, and the plant dies back for winter. WUCOLS rates umbrella plant high water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley and on the south coast. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for South Inland, the high desert or the low desert.
In pots
Umbrella plant can grow in a large, deep container stood in a deep tray of water, which keeps the mix wet like a bog. Use a heavy, moisture-holding mix. Top up water whenever the surface begins to dry, and in summer that can mean daily. A pot set in a shallow pond edge works too. In winter, after the leaves die down, keep the mix damp but not flooded.
- A year
- 27.38 gal per sq ft
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
Monthly water need by climate zone
Umbrella Plant: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.6 | 0.64 | 1.24 | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.84 | 1.04 | 1.29 | – | – | – |
| Mar | 1.39 | 1.74 | 1.84 | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.88 | 2.43 | 2.23 | – | – | – |
| May | 2.33 | 3.32 | 2.58 | – | – | – |
| Jun | 2.58 | 3.97 | 2.78 | – | – | – |
| Jul | 2.58 | 4.27 | 3.17 | – | – | – |
| Aug | 2.38 | 3.82 | 2.98 | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.98 | 2.88 | 2.38 | – | – | – |
| Oct | 1.39 | 1.88 | 1.84 | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.74 | 0.89 | 1.34 | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.5 | 0.55 | 1.04 | – | – | – |
| Year | 19.2 | 27.38 | 24.8 | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated high water in the Central Valley, like umbrella plant. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Japanese Sweet FlagAcorus gramineushigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Red GingerAlpinia purpuratahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Shell GingerAlpinia zerumbethigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Siberian BuglossBrunnera macrophyllahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Marsh MarigoldCaltha palustrishigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Umbrella Sedge and PapyrusCyperus spp. (CA native and non-native species)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea cvshigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Leopard PlantFarfugium japonicum cvs. (Ligularia tussilaginea cvs.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Transvaal DaisyGerbera jamesonii & hybridshigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Giant GunneraGunnera manicatahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
White Ginger LilyHedychium coronariumhigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Japanese IrisIris ensatahigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
RushJuncus aquatic spp. (native and non-native spp.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Cardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalis hybrids and cvs. (CA native and non-native spp.)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
BananaMusa spp. (shade in low desert)high water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in July
Sensitive FernOnoclea sensibilishigh water, Central Valley4.27 gal/sq ft in JulySimilar plants that need less water 16
Rated lower than umbrella plant in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.
DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
FernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
DayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
BegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Calla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
SageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Bicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Garden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Carpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Snowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Mountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Swamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Orange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Greater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Hardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July
Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes umbrella plant, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How often should I water umbrella plant in summer?
In July, established umbrella plant in loam needs a deep watering about every 3 days in the Central Valley and about every 5 days on the south coast. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.
How much water does umbrella plant need per day?
In July in the Central Valley, established umbrella plant needs about 0.4 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.7 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for umbrella plant change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates umbrella plant separately for each of the six California climate zones: high water in the North-Central Coastal zone, high water in the Central Valley zone, high water in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Does umbrella plant need a pond?
It does not need a pond, but it needs moist or boggy soil. Pond and stream edges suit it well. A bog bed or wet corner also works.
Where is umbrella plant native?
It is native to the western United States. In gardens it needs steady water like it gets beside streams. It is not a dry garden plant.
Why do umbrella plant flowers come before the leaves?
That is its normal habit. Pink flower clusters rise on tall stems in spring. The large leaves follow.
Does umbrella plant lose its leaves in winter?
Yes, it is deciduous, and the leaves turn red in autumn before dying back. New growth returns in spring. Keep the soil damp while it rests.
How do I propagate umbrella plant?
Divide the rhizomes in spring, or sow seed in spring or autumn. Keep divisions wet. Plant them where the soil stays moist.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Darmera peltata (Peltiphyllum), the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf