Gunnera

Gunnera

* historic archive photo

Gunnera chilensis
A massive perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 x 10 ( rarely over 6 x 7 ) feet in size. It is native to the temperate rainforests of southern Chile. It thrives especially well in Ireland and is sometimes found naturalized there locally.
The coarsely-toothed, palmately-lobed, gigantic leaves are up to 6 feet across. The foliage is spiny beneath. The stems are also spiny.
The flower inflorescences, up to 5 feet tall, also have spiny bracts.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( possibly 6 on very protected sites ) on permanently moist to wet, deep fertile soil. Propagation is from division or seed.

* gunnera in Puerto Montt, Chile

Gunnera manicata
A massive perennial, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 33 ( rarely over 11 x 15 ) feet in size. It is native to the moist Atlantic rainforests of southern Brazil. It thrives especially well in Ireland and is sometimes found naturalized there locally.
The coarsely-toothed, palmately-lobed, kidney-shaped, gigantic leaves are up to 17 feet across. The crinkled foliage is spiny beneath. The stems also have reddish spines. The leaves are among the largest of all plants.
The flower inflorescences, up to 7 ( rarely over 5 ) feet tall, also have spiny bracts. The flower panicles are more slender than that of Gunnera chilensis.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( possibly 7 on protected sites with thick winter mulch ) on permanently moist to wet, deep fertile soil. Propagation is from division or seed.

* historic archive photos

Gunnera magellanica
A fast growing, stolon-spreading, mat-forming, groundcover perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 inches x 3.3 feet in size, that is native to southern Chile.
The crinkled, toothed, kidney-shaped leaves are up to 5 ( rarely over 3.5 ) inches across.
The flower inflorescences are up to 3.2 inches in height.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in partial shade on permanently moist, deep, fertile soil. It requires a cool coastal climate such as southern Chile, the Pacific Northwest or the British Isles. Propagation is from division or seed.