I used to get a supply of rhubarb from my my dad's garden but he died about ten years ago and mom sold the homestead. Since then I haven't had a piece of rhubarb pie or a side of rhubarb sauce. It's time to plant my own and I found some room in an island I have in my yard. I gave up on a garden years ago because of the critters but I can afford some room among the ornamental grass and a few other deer resistant ornamentals. I have two questions before I begin. First, is rhubarb deer resistant? Secondly, are there cultivars that are more suited to cooking than others. Choices appear to be limited in the area, in fact I couldn't even find rhubarb at the garden centers last year.
My first thought was that since rhubarb leaves are poisonous, the deer would leave them alone. A quick google search provides examples of deer eating rhubarb, but this plant is also listed as being one of the more resistant choices. Even if rhubarb plants are eaten down to the ground, there is a good chance that it will come back. I think it would be worth giving it a try, rhubarb is too good not to...
Don't know about the varieties - I like the ones with bright red stalks for appearance alone, but have cooked with both red a green stalks.
