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Gunnera manicata

Also Known As

Gunnera brasiliensis
Giant Rhubarb
Jurassic Rhubarb

Plant type

perennial, aquatic

size

H: 6'-10'
W: 10'-15'

planting zones

7a-9b

More Options

Gunnera manicata plant details

If you can grow a Gunnera, you really must. There's just no beating the drama. The bigger the better, and Gunnera manicata is the biggest. The tooth-y sandpaper-y rigid leaves that grow miraculously huge <3. Even the average smaller plants are impressive, but the really happy mature plants with those enormous leaves reaching to 10 feet high? It's enrapturing. The oddball corncob flowers at the base are not showy from a distance but a lot of fun to see up close, so plant it somewhere you can get a good look. They're fun to plant alongside a path where you can walk beneath the prehistoric leaves.

This is a thirsty plant that can't tolerate soil drying out, so make sure it's planted where it will get regular water. If you have a water feature, a Gunnera surely belongs alongside it. While reported hardy down to zone 7, even here in zone 8 the crown benefits from being covered with last season's leaves over the winter.

Gunnera manicata is a fast-growing broadleaf evergreen perennial aquatic with green foliage. In spring and summer green flowers emerge. Grows well with sun and standing water - high water. Does well in rich soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Gunnera manicata

Plant type: perennial aquatic
Plant family: gunneraceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 10 FT - 15 FT - wide, 6 FT - 10 FT - tall
Flowers: green blooms in spring and summer
Uses: big leaves, showy, tropical-looking

GROWING CONDITIONS for Gunnera manicata

USDA Zones: 7a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: standing water - high

Soil needs: rich

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Gunnera manicata is a native of higher elevations in Brazil. It is a monster perennial often called giant rhubarb or dinosaur food. The heavily textured, sandpapery, palmate leaves can reach six feet in diametre and stand four to eight feet tall. Grow in moist, even wet, conditions and rich soils. It is more upright than G. tinctoria.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Dinosaur food' says it all for this slowly creeping perennial, it looks as if it just arrived from the Jurrassic era! It is one of the largest herbaceous perennials on earth! Native to eastern South America with amazing, huge, lobed, ruffled and highly textured leaves which grow to be to 6-8' across on 6' prickly, hairy petioles. Interesting tiny reddish-green flowers grow on club-like stalks; though not frost hardy, they can be grown in containers and brought in to a cool frost-free location for the winter. Such an unusual beauty they are well with growing, they do require a special spot! PSh/M-W (not dry)

By: Forestfarm

Zn 6. Mature plants are very large w/large leaves.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

This is the largest hardy species, over time, developing a large rhizome. The foliage is larger and heavier in texture. 6 ft. across to taller than 8 ft. Protect crown in winter for maximum hardiness.

By: Heritage Seedlings

Blooms: summer, unusual cone like/ huge leaves Zone 7-9. 6'-8', South America, part shade-sun, moist, well drained

By: Keeping it Green Nursery

Enormous puckered leaves with tropical look, corncob like flowers, boggy okay, Mulch in winter. Zones 7-8

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Called 'dinosaur food' by many, this S. American primitive thrives in Portland near a good source of water and fertilizer. Can take lots of sun when damp. Impress your friends: frighten the kids. Frost hardy in USDA zone 7.

By: Cistus Nursery

Big leaves 3'-5' across and the prehistoric reddish flower cone is just too bizarre. Loves a lot of moisture like a pond edge. Cover crown with leaves in winter to protect from hard frost. For those who prefer size.

By: Far Reaches Farm

One of the ultimate foliage plants reaching Volkswagen Bug size in time. Huge leaves 4-7' across on mature plants. Protect from Arctic blast in winter.

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Gunnera manicata is the giant of the gunnera world. Our plant gets 8-10' tall and has 4-5 leaves. The foliage isn't as course and rough as G chilensis.