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Key characteristics

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

Perennials

Gunnera tinctoria

Giant Rhubarb

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.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

High, prefers consistently moist to wet soil

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

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.