October is Rhubarb Month, and that means everyone should be using more rhubarb in their cooking over the next 31 days. Although rhubarb has technically been more popular in Europe than in the United States, some Americans are beginning to catch on to the versatility of this plant.

This tender plant can not only be baked into some of the most delicious pies on the planet but can also be pureed, stewed, or roasted. Some people turn rhubarb into a syrup that can be drizzled over ice cream or worked into various cocktails. So, everyone can get creative during this month and enjoy it in their own way.

The History of Rhubarb Month

Okay, we’re not exactly sure who started Rhubarb Month, but we would like to say that we’re glad they did. After all, we wouldn’t have discovered just how versatile rhubarb is. Over the course of this month, we learned about 1,001 things to do with rhubarb and are learning new things every day.

Interesting Facts About Rhubarb

Is anyone hungry for a serving of rhubarb facts? Anyone who is can stick around and check out the following list. We’ve gathered together some of the best rhubarb facts available—facts that we’re now going to share with the world.

• Rhubarb was first imported from China. Its original purpose was as a medicinal plant.
• Rhubarb has been cultivated for over 2,000 years.
• Rhubarb didn’t really start being used as food until the 18th century.
• The word “rhubarb” comes from the Greek word “rhabarbaron,” which means barbarian root.
• Rhubarb is a relative of knotweed, sorrel, and buckwheat.
• Rhubarb can live in extremely cold climates, such as Alaska and Siberia.
• It’s believed that rhubarb is poisonous to pets, so keep it away from cats and dogs.
• Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable.
• When growing it as a perennial, rhubarb shouldn’t be harvested in the first year.

Observing Rhubarb Month

We came across a ton of rhubarb recipes while creating this article, and so we thought we’d share with everyone the names of some of our favorite recipes so they can be looked up and made for Rhubarb Month.

The recipes that we like the most include Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake, Rhubarb Crisp, Walnut Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler, Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, and Rhubarb Strawberry Pie. Anyone who finds other rhubarb recipes can feel free to share them online using the hashtag #RhubarbMonth. Let’s all celebrate this month with some great food!