Gunnera manicata
Giant Brazilian prickly rhubarb, Chile rhubarb
- Height × spread
- 2.8m × 2.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Average winter to - 10C (RHS H4)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This staggering plant looks almost prehistoric. The sight of a collapsed bed of gunnera in winter is extraordinary, the dismembered hulks of dinosaurs comes to mind. In spring, the flower heads lift themselves up as the leaves start to unfurl. During summer, the leaves take on mighty proportions, so that you can often stand underneath them. You see it for sale sometimes, in a little pot, advertised inaccurately in garden centres! Each leaf can reach over 1.8m (6ft) across, so think of the space a five leafed gunnera can occupy. It's excellent planted by water.
- Flower colour
- Brown
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Brown, Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 2.8m
- Spread
- 2.4m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Exotic garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Average winter to - 10C (RHS H4)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves are prickly
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Winter
Winter · Planting
Apply a protective mulch
Protect with a mulch so that the plant does not become too wet in winter.
A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.