Page 1 of 1
Gunnera manicata
Posted: Jun 19, 2005 7:35 am
by whis4ey
is now some 15 feet high. You can no longer see the Teahouse, which itself is about 12 feet high
Posted: Jun 19, 2005 11:03 am
by patsue53
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.
Posted: Jun 19, 2005 11:25 am
by shadylanejewel
Note to self - MUST MOVE GUNNERA MANICATA
Right now mine is smaller than my Gunnera chilensis and it is getting huge.
Posted: Jun 19, 2005 2:02 pm
by whis4ey
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
Posted: Jun 19, 2005 3:04 pm
by Minnow
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 
Posted: Jul 05, 2005 6:51 pm
by Gruntfuttock
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.
Posted: Jul 05, 2005 11:41 pm
by patsue53
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!
Posted: Jul 06, 2005 5:00 am
by whis4ey
They need LOTS of water
The area where this monster grows is completely sodden from the the pond
Posted: Jul 06, 2005 3:08 pm
by wishiwere
Very cool!
Posted: Jul 11, 2005 10:53 am
by petal*pusher
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
Posted: Jul 11, 2005 11:12 am
by whis4ey
We would probably be a 6/7 zone