A colonial perennial reaching 2 or more meters in full sun. This plant has hollow-jointed stems like bamboo. The leaves are heart-shaped or ovate and flat at the bottom. The flowers arise at the leaf axils and are drooping racemes of white flowers, appearing from August to October. The erect stems dry after leaf drop and remain standing throughout much of the winter. The plants are difficult to eradicate once established.

Invasive; common throughout

Use in place of rhubarb as it has a similar tart flavour.