Gunnera manicata

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jun 19, 2005 7:35 am

is now some 15 feet high. You can no longer see the Teahouse, which itself is about 12 feet high

patsue53 · Post by **patsue53** » Jun 19, 2005 11:03 am

Holy Cow!

It looks like some kind of prehistoric, gigantic rhubarb!!!

I admit I had no knowledge of this plant so I Googled it. Very cool!

Sam, yours comes back every year? The information I found said it was hardy to zone 7.

shadylanejewel · Post by **shadylanejewel** » Jun 19, 2005 11:25 am

Note to self - MUST MOVE GUNNERA MANICATA

Right now mine is smaller than my Gunnera chilensis and it is getting huge.

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jun 19, 2005 2:02 pm

They need loads of water
I cover it each year with its own leaves for protection
This is it as it started off in May

Minnow · Post by **Minnow** » Jun 19, 2005 3:04 pm

I really need to move in with you Sam or I need to move to the Pacific Northwest where these grow! Chili is out of the question! That is my dream plant to be able to grow! Way to much heat & humidity here in Western North Carolina for them

Gruntfuttock · Post by **Gruntfuttock** » Jul 05, 2005 6:51 pm

My gunnera is 5 years old now and has lots of leaves, but no height.

The leaves open as soon as they sprout and never get more than 18 inches wide or 2 feet high.

Last winter I dug it up. The rootball weighed over 200 pounds. I levered it out of the way and dug the hole much bigger then lined the hole with a heavy duty sheet and replaced the soil mixed with a slow release granular fertiliser.

This year it has grown exactly the same height.

Frustrated is the word that comess to mind.

patsue53 · Post by **patsue53** » Jul 05, 2005 11:41 pm

What a wonderfully strange plant!!! I would LOVE to be able to grow that guy but I don't think he'd survive the Northern Illinois winters. Neat!

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jul 06, 2005 5:00 am

They need LOTS of water
The area where this monster grows is completely sodden from the the pond

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jul 06, 2005 3:08 pm

Very cool!

petal*pusher · Post by **petal*pusher** » Jul 11, 2005 10:53 am

What an interesting plant! What is your growing zone??

Even the early spring stages are so unusual....I love it!! Thanks for sharing your pics.....p

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jul 11, 2005 11:12 am

We would probably be a 6/7 zone