The founding fathers intentionally began to define their separation from England and North American identity through the selection of plants cultivated in their gardens and advocated other citizens to grow as a sign of their patriotism. These included plants native to North America as well as okra from Africa.
Rhubarb, which some call the Pie Plant because people most often used it for pie filling, is indigenous to China where herbalist used it for its purgative qualities. Venetian traders introduced it to Southern Europe where rhubarb first appeared in an Italian garden in 1608. From there it spread to the rest of Europe. Rhubarb’s first reference as food, as tart and pie filling, dates back to 1778.
