Gunnera manicata - Brazilian Giant-rhubarb

The Gunnera manicata, also known as the Brési Giant Rhubarb or Gunnera brasiliensis, is a perennial plant with a striking appearance and a popular choice for ornamental gardens, especially those near water. Its lush foliage and long-lasting flower heads enchant gardeners of all kinds. This plant is a must-have for water gardens but can also be grown in a large submerged pot to add an exotic touch to your terrace for a few years.

The Gunnera manicata is a perennial plant that grows in Brazil and Colombia. It prefers high-altitude marshes that experience frost in winter. The plant can survive strong frosts up to -15°C without damage if it's older, well-established, and protected from cold winds. It sheds its leaves every winter and regrows from the base each spring. The plant grows rapidly and can form a clump that reaches up to 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) in all directions in moist and fertile soil. Its bright green leaves are rounded with dentate lobes along the margin, making them wavy. They can grow up to 1.50 to 2m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter and are carried by long, thick, fleshy petioles covered with soft, harmless spines that are very decorative. In May, the centre of the clump produces large flower heads that slowly rise to about 1m (3 ft 4 in) by the end of the season. The flower heads consist of many small green flowers followed by decorative brown fruits until autumn.

The Brazilian Gunnera is a plant that never ceases to charm and amaze. To grow it successfully, plant it in deep, constantly moist soil that is regularly given fertiliser. It looks great along the pond's edge and can be accompanied by royal ferns, Miscanthus giganteus and zebrinus, Caltha palustris, and the famous Crowborough Arum. Make sure to create some low-growing areas so that the pond is not entirely hidden; a few Carex pendula or Carex elata Aurea, Achillea ptarmica, or Myosotis palustris would be perfect and offer a beautiful perspective in contrast to the larger plants. For example, you can add some colour with giant Hibiscus moscheutos, Cape lilies, and Physostegia virginiana. You can also grow it in a huge pot but remember that it will not reach its full potential, and its lifespan will be shortened. The genus name Gunnera refers to the botanist Johan Ernst Gunnerus (1718-1773), to whom we owe the writing of the book "Flora of Norway."