Buy Gunnera tinctoria

Gunnera tinctoria is a native of Chile related to the famous Gunnera manicata. It is a bit smaller than its cousin but still a monster perennial growing to about 6 feet tall with leaves 4-7 feet across, hence the names giant rhubarb or dinosaur food. The leaves can also be a little less upright and more arching. The upright conical inflorescences are structurally impressive reaching 2-3 feet tall covered in tiny green flowers that become bright orange-red fruit. Grow in moist to evenly wet conditions and rich soils.

Dinosaur food. This huge leafed perennial grows great for us in the Northwest. I've seen leaves 7'-8' across and above a ranch style house. A very fun plant to amaze your garden friends.

Gunnera tinctoria is a clump forming, herbaceous perennial with gigantic, deep green, palmate foliage. Dinosaur food plant makes a striking impact in the landscape. Protect from drying winds. Grow in deep, rich, moist soil. This water loving plant does well near ponds or waterways, but can be grown in the landscape with constant moisture.

(DINOSAUR FOOD) Super-sized, prehistoric perennial of gargantuan proportions! 8’ x 8’ – this plant needs elbow room, bright light and rich moist soil (but not wet feet in winter). Protect the crown over the winter – lobed leaves to 5’ across have soft ‘teeth’ on stem undersides – mysterious cones are partially obscured by leaves…unless of course, the brontosaurus eats them! Ask us about our planting recipe for this beast.

The largest-leafed hardy plant, Giant Chilean Rhubarb produces leaves up to five feet in diameter and ten feet tall in large clumps that can be more than fifteen feet wide. The largest leaf size seems to be attained by placing plants in areas with light shade from tall trees, although they will still produce large leaves in full sun. Despite the fact that Chilean Rhubarb isn't actually related to true Rhubarb, it looks similar and grows like a scaled-up version of true Rhubarb. The stems are also edible when cooked and taste similar to Rhubarb, they are best harvested when young. Chilean Rhubarb is hardy to around 0 degrees, but if temperatures will be below 20 degrees it is a good idea to mulch the crown of the plant in the fall. In colder climates the leaves will die back to the ground in the fall while in warmer climates they will stay evergreen. This species grows quickly so you can achieve nearly full size in northern climates by lifting the root ball in the fall and bringing it into a cool garage for the winter and replanting the next spring. Typically a mature crown will produce leaves up to four or five feet wide within about two months after being planted back out in the spring. When digging the crown in the fall it is best to cut the leaf stalks back to about six inches tall and keep the roots in a large pot with coarse organic material such as shredded bark. Water the roots about every week to ten days through the winter.The leaf size will get much larger if plants are grown in good soil and fertilized each spring with a slow release pellet like Osmocote. Spring fertilizing is especially important if you are storing the root crown indoors over the winter.

Boggy soil a must; BIG leaves

Everything about this amazing Chilean native is BIG! A super-sized perennial of prehistoric-looking, gargantuan magnitude, Gunnera tinctoria projects a bold, dignified persona. Palmately lobed leaves with toothed and frilled margins unfurl to 5 ft. across atop thick edible stalks that emerge from underground rhizomes, rich in tannins. Launching a large cob-shaped inflorescence inhabited by tiny rusty red flowers, the enormous domed mound adds sheer mass and a coarse stiff texture to the landscape. Although the Chilean Rhubarb sulks in high summer humidity, it is undemanding and quick to establish in moist areas, given A LOT of room and winter protection for the crowns. Hardy to zone 7.

Gunnera is one of South America's best additions to our gardens, with leaves easily reaching 5 ft. across and 7 ft. high, often more! It is easy and rapid-growing in moist soil, blossoming annually with tiny flowers on large 2 ft. club-like structures. Liners will look great in a #1 container or #3 container in no time! (It dislikes the high summer humidity of the East and Southeast).

Dramatic (to say the least!) landscape plants for pool edge or PSh with round lobed leaves 3-6'! across; "I believe the secret for ensuring its reaching gigantic proportions... is to 'feed the brute'"(E.A.Bowles)

Magnificent foliage plant of grand proportions with large leaves held upright.