Gunnera manicata - 'giant rhubarb'
Gunnera manicata is best known for the enormous size of its leaves - typically up to 1.5 metres across. The plant can reach almost 2 metres in height and the same in spread. It is perhaps best described as an enormous rhubarb plant (it is also known as Chile Rhubarb or Giant Rhubarb).
It is a spectacular plant to have next to a pond in a larger garden.
Hailing from Brazil and south America, the gunnera is clearly best suited to large gardens! It prefers damp conditions, in full sun or partial shade, and reasonably warm temperatures.
The shoots at the centre of the plant are frost sensitive, so these should be protected with the dead leaves or with straw when frost is expected.Gunnera can be grown from seed (moist warm soil required) or bought as a plant.
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