Giant Rhubarb, Giant Gunnera (Gunnera manicata)

Giant Rhubarb, Giant Gunnera
Gunnera manicata

Gunnera manicata in Spring

I have recently planted a gunnera in a barrel and have kept it watered everyday because I understood they needed bog conditions. Where is this photo taken because I would rather keep it in a dry location and not help breed mosquitos. I live in a zone 5 so can I overwinter the gunnera in a heated garage? Thank you for any help you can give me. Dianne Lane

This Gunnera is growing in our garden in East Cork, Ireland. Although the leaves die back in winter we have no problem with it surviving, yes they don't like to get too dry, if they do the leaves wilt. It grows vigorously here and needs plenty of space, I think yours will out grow your barrel before too long.The picture was taken in early spring, it has grown much larger now, I've had to cut off some leaves so I can get the mower around it. Good luck with yours Dianne.

KMAC, I have a gunnera, and I want to share it with some DGers at the Mid-South Round UP on May 5. Every time I dig one up, it dies. It seems that it send out a long runner, and the new plants come up ON that runner. If I cut the runner, the plant dies because it doesn't seem to have any roots.

Do you have information on how I might share it? Thanks for anything you can tell me.

those are BLOOMS!

The blooms are on the ground?? If I leave them alone, they grow taller and become plants... Am I missing something, tropicsofdenver? I appreciate your response!

no, I was commenting on the image. sorry, but I don't know anything about that.

hi, I love this plant, could you give me some directions on how i could grow it
in west texas- we do have a lot of cold weather here for a few mounts.It is so pretty.
thanks --Joy

mabey, just find you a source to get one/some from. I have some, but I never know if they'll make it through the winter. They have, for the past three years, and I'm in zone 7b.

They just need a lot of water and lots of fertilizer, because they are so big. The one I have has flower stalks on it (I think that's what that is) and I'm gonna have to check to see if the cold weather has caused it to wilt, or die...

Flowerlady, thank you for the information.I will get some more seed and plant them in the spring,I love the big plants ,but the seed I planted didnt come up. I did plant some marlabar spinach and it grew beautifully.It grows on a vine,deep red in color and has tiny white flowers, then the little flowers turn to green seed ,then turn almost black ,but when you pick them you have a deep red or purplish color on your hands. It is a beautiful vine and you can eat the leaves. Does anyone want to trade some seed? I would like to have the Gunnera seed - will trade spinach or the hycenth bean seed.I have a lot of them.--Joy

mabey, send me a d-mail and we'll work out a trade.