Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Gunnera tinctoria
Giant Rhubarb
- Family
- Gunneraceae
- Height
- 6-10 feet
- Width
- 8-10 feet
- Flower color
- Greenish-red, non-ornamental
- Foliage color
- Deep green
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- High, prefers consistently moist to wet soil
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Wildlife
- Birds and insects
About this plant
Gunnera tinctoria, or Chilean Rhubarb, is a dramatic perennial known for its enormous, deeply lobed leaves that can grow up to 4-6 feet wide. Native to South America, this striking plant features stout, prickly stems and rough, bright green foliage with a glossy finish, while the undersides and stems are covered in spiky, reddish hairs. In late spring to early summer, it produces dense, conical flower spikes up to 3 feet tall, though the flowers themselves are not particularly ornamental. Ideal for large gardens, Gunnera creates a lush, tropical effect and is well-suited for water gardens, bog gardens, or the edges of ponds, making it a bold focal point in any landscape.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Bird Gardens · Rain Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns
Design tip
The long summer show pairs well with plants that peak earlier, keeping one area interesting for months. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the iris rain garden at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
