Gunnera tinctoria - Chilean Rhubarb

Gunnera manicata, also known as Brazilian giant rhubarb or Gunnera brasiliensis, is a perennial plant to say the least "monstrous", particularly prized beside ponds and other water features for the luxuriance of its foliage and its extremely graphic habit. Its imposing, rugged presence evokes image of a primitive swamp world where tree ferns and giant dragonflies once coexisted. The plant seems from another age, disproportionate, with giant petioles studded with thorns that can exceed human height and project rough palmate laminae 2 to 3 m in diameter toward the light, accompanied by enormous brush-like inflorescences emerging directly from the ground. Strangeness of this perennial does not prevent it being relatively easy to grow. Native to tropical and subtropical mountains of Brazil and Colombia, it adapts very well to temperate zones enjoying a mild, humid climate such as along Atlantic and English Channel coasts, even becoming invasive in British Isles. But because it is deciduous, simply covering the stump with its enormous leaves allows it to withstand frosts down to -15 to -20°C. It has been cultivated in Vienna botanical garden for decades with simple, rudimentary protection. Genus is very diverse so there are also mat-forming perennials only 10 cm high such as Gunnera magellanica, found up to 3000 m altitude in Andes. Thanks to sym symbiosis established with cyanobacteria, Gunnera manicata is able to capture nitrogen from air which explains its exceptional growth. This plant in all cases requires fresh to moist but well-drained soil, as on banks of a pond. It can quite easily be planted in a large deep pot watered regularly to adorn a terrace for a few years. In an exotic-style garden, it pairs well with tree fern (<a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/dicksonia/dicksonia-antarctica-tree-fern.html"><strong>Dicksonia antartica</strong></a>) or palms that like or tolerate moist soils such as Sabal, and even Trachycarpus. [caption id="attachment_61430" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-61430" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Gunnera-manicata-1024x675.jpg" alt="Gunnera" width="1024" height="675" /> Gunnera manicata - botanical illustration[/caption]