Scientific Name:
Gunnera manicata
Pronunciation:
guh-NEER-uh man-ih-KAY-tuh
Common Name:
gunnera, giant rhubarb
Family Name:
Gunneraceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Clump-forming; leaves basal, up to 1.2m wide and 2m long to almost round, very rough and heavily veined with thick, spiny petioles around a thick flower 'spike'.
Habit:
Arching, Open
Form:
Oval - horizontal
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
3 - 4m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
South America (Columbia, Brazil)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich
Water Use:
High
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Aquatic - ponds, Screening, Specimen plant, Waterside planting, Wetland - bogs
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Prickly, Heavily veined, Palmate venation
Surfaces:
Rugose
Colour in Summer:
Green, Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Green, Brown
Shapes:
Orbicular, Ovate
Apices:
Rounded
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Dentate, Pinnately lobed, Undulate (wavy)
Inflorescence Type:
Panicle, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
2
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Green, Pink, Red
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul
Additional Info:
Whole flower 'spike' to 1m long.
Fruit Type:
Drupe
Fruit Colour:
Green, Red
Fruiting Time:
Sep
Additional Info:
Showy,
Bark or Stem Colour:
Additional Info:
petioles are fibrous,no bark present
Organ Modifications:
Spines
Propagation:
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Division - above ground parts, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
in winter, cover the crowns with leaves or mulch to protect from cold temperature injury
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
- Level 4 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (ENA) Eastern North American planting
- (PDW) PonD West