Search Plants
Try for Free
English
About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Gunnera (Gunnera)
Gunnera are flowering plants, of which some species are known to have giant leaves. As a result, they have been popularly planted as ornamentals in public spaces in temperate areas. Spme species have edible stalks, particularly Gunnera tinctoria in Chile and Argentina and Gunnera perpensa in southern Africa*.* The latter is said to be used in local beer-making.
Lifespan
Perennial
Key Facts About Gunnera
Feedback
Attributes of Gunnera
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Gunnera
Distribution of Gunnera
Feedback
Distribution Map of Gunnera
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Gunnera
Feedback
Gunnera comprises large, perennial plants known for their giant leaves, thriving in moist, nutrient-rich environments. Basic care includes partial shade, ample water, and cool temperatures, with a preference for acidic, organically rich soils. Common challenges comprise of slugs and snails, along with potential crown rot if overwatered or in poorly draining soils. Seasonally, gunnera demands winter protection in colder climates and may require division in spring or early summer for maintenance.
How to Water Gunnera?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Gunnera?
How to Propagate Gunnera?
How to Plant Gunnera?
Exploring the Gunnera Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Chilean rhubarb
As its common name suggests, chilean rhubarb is native to southern Chile, as well as parts of Argentina. However, Gunnera tinctoria is unrelated to rhubarb, although it has similar culinary uses. Chilean rhubarb was introduced as an ornamental plant in New Zealand and the British Isles, where it has since become an invasive weed.
Giant rhubarb
In spite of its common name, giant rhubarb, this plant is not closely related to the rhubarb family. However, its leaves have the appearance of an extremely large rhubarb plant, growing up to 2.5 m tall.
Gunnera monoica
It is one of the smallest species of Gunnera, with leaves of around 3 cm wide. This fruit is barrel shaped and white in colour, though some varieties may have purple or red flecks. The leaves have a rounded appearance and either a corrugated or spiky margin.
River pumpkin
With its mound of blue-green leaves and spikes of small pink flowers, river pumpkin (Gunnera perpensa) is an instantly recognizable garden plant. It is often cultivated in hanging baskets to allow its beauty to be fully appreciated. It demands wet or boggy soil and will not thrive if left exposed to the elements, such as excessive wind or sun.
Creeping rhubarb
Creeping rhubarb is a fascinating plant with unique characteristics. This mesmerizing plant is perfect for gardens due to its stunning appearance and remarkable versatility. With its attractive foliage and large, cone-shaped flowers, it easily attracts insects and birds, making it a great addition to any garden.Its toxicity and invasiveness make it a plant to be cautious of, but its extraordinary features and interesting name story make it a captivating choice for any plant enthusiast.
Gunnera mexicana
Gunnera mexicana is distinguished by its colossal, lush green leaves that fan out like nature's own umbrellas, sometimes spanning several feet. These verdant shields thrive in moist, bog-like conditions, which gunnera mexicana prefers, using their ample surface to capture sunlight. The plant's size and love for water enable it to dominate its habitat, overshadowing smaller flora with its grandiose foliage.
Gunnera arenaria
Gunnera arenaria is known for its impressive size and broad, rhubarb-like leaves that can shade the ground beneath. Thriving in moist, swampy conditions, its size is a testament to how well it adapts to water-abundant environments. The plant's leaves have a coarse, sandpapery texture, with flower spikes that bloom seasonally, providing a stark contrast to the lush greenery.
Gunnera densiflora
Gunnera densiflora is a robust, fast-growing plant native to wet and marshy regions. It stands out with its sizable, lobed leaves that can span over a meter, providing an umbrella-like canopy. Tiny red or greenish flowers cluster on spikey inflorescences, eventually giving way to small, berry-like fruits. Its thick, spongy roots allow for survival in dense, waterlogged soils, making gunnera densiflora a stunning, yet practical feature in wetland gardens.
All Species of Gunnera
Chilean rhubarb
Chilean rhubarb
As its common name suggests, chilean rhubarb is native to southern Chile, as well as parts of Argentina. However, Gunnera tinctoria is unrelated to rhubarb, although it has similar culinary uses. Chilean rhubarb was introduced as an ornamental plant in New Zealand and the British Isles, where it has since become an invasive weed.
Giant rhubarb
Giant rhubarb
In spite of its common name, giant rhubarb, this plant is not closely related to the rhubarb family. However, its leaves have the appearance of an extremely large rhubarb plant, growing up to 2.5 m tall.
Gunnera monoica
Gunnera monoica
It is one of the smallest species of Gunnera, with leaves of around 3 cm wide. This fruit is barrel shaped and white in colour, though some varieties may have purple or red flecks. The leaves have a rounded appearance and either a corrugated or spiky margin.
River pumpkin
River pumpkin
With its mound of blue-green leaves and spikes of small pink flowers, river pumpkin (Gunnera perpensa) is an instantly recognizable garden plant. It is often cultivated in hanging baskets to allow its beauty to be fully appreciated. It demands wet or boggy soil and will not thrive if left exposed to the elements, such as excessive wind or sun.
Creeping rhubarb
Creeping rhubarb
Creeping rhubarb is a fascinating plant with unique characteristics. This mesmerizing plant is perfect for gardens due to its stunning appearance and remarkable versatility. With its attractive foliage and large, cone-shaped flowers, it easily attracts insects and birds, making it a great addition to any garden.Its toxicity and invasiveness make it a plant to be cautious of, but its extraordinary features and interesting name story make it a captivating choice for any plant enthusiast.
Gunnera mexicana
Gunnera mexicana
Gunnera mexicana is distinguished by its colossal, lush green leaves that fan out like nature's own umbrellas, sometimes spanning several feet. These verdant shields thrive in moist, bog-like conditions, which gunnera mexicana prefers, using their ample surface to capture sunlight. The plant's size and love for water enable it to dominate its habitat, overshadowing smaller flora with its grandiose foliage.
Gunnera arenaria
Gunnera arenaria
Gunnera arenaria is known for its impressive size and broad, rhubarb-like leaves that can shade the ground beneath. Thriving in moist, swampy conditions, its size is a testament to how well it adapts to water-abundant environments. The plant's leaves have a coarse, sandpapery texture, with flower spikes that bloom seasonally, providing a stark contrast to the lush greenery.
Gunnera densiflora
Gunnera densiflora
Gunnera densiflora is a robust, fast-growing plant native to wet and marshy regions. It stands out with its sizable, lobed leaves that can span over a meter, providing an umbrella-like canopy. Tiny red or greenish flowers cluster on spikey inflorescences, eventually giving way to small, berry-like fruits. Its thick, spongy roots allow for survival in dense, waterlogged soils, making gunnera densiflora a stunning, yet practical feature in wetland gardens.
Gunnera magellanica
Gunnera magellanica
Gunnera magellanica is a small, carpet-forming perennial that thrives in the moist, peaty soils of its native subantarctic regions. With its tiny, rounded green leaves and inconspicuous red-brown flowers, gunnera magellanica is adapted to low-nutrient environments, often forming dense mats that cover the ground. Resilient against cold climates, its miniature size allows it to conserve energy and survive in harsh conditions.
Poorman's umbrella
Poorman's umbrella
Poorman's umbrella stands out with its colossal, umbrella-like leaves, which create a dramatic canopy over damp, shaded forest floors. These giant leaves, sometimes reaching several meters in width, help poorman's umbrella to monopolize sunlight and suppress undergrowth. Its robust, spiky red flower cones emerge amidst the verdant foliage, adding a striking visual contrast.
Gunnera hamiltonii
Gunnera hamiltonii
Gunnera hamiltonii is notable for its lush, large, deeply veined leaves that form a low-lying rosette. The leaves' textured surfaces showcase a rich, green hue, complementing small, inconspicuous red-green flowers. Preferring damp, shaded environments, gunnera hamiltonii's substantial leaf spread captures limited sunlight efficiently, while its rhizomatous roots secure moist soils, ensuring the plant thrives in its often waterlogged habitats.
Gunnera dentata
Gunnera dentata
Gunnera dentata is a robust perennial known for its large, rounded leaves with toothy edges, which can create a striking visual impact in moist, shaded garden spots. The leaves' size reflects an adaptation for capturing sunlight in lower-light environments. Tiny, reddish inflorescences cluster on spikes, offering subtle contrast. Gunnera dentata's imposing presence is softened by its preference for wet, boggy soils, which supports its lush, dramatic foliage.
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants and unlimited guides at your fingertips...
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Botanist in your pocket
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app
About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Gunnera
Gunnera
Gunnera are flowering plants, of which some species are known to have giant leaves. As a result, they have been popularly planted as ornamentals in public spaces in temperate areas. Spme species have edible stalks, particularly Gunnera tinctoria in Chile and Argentina and Gunnera perpensa in southern Africa*.* The latter is said to be used in local beer-making.
Lifespan
Perennial
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Key Facts About Gunnera
Feedback
Attributes of Gunnera
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Gunnera
Distribution of Gunnera
Feedback
Distribution Map of Gunnera
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Gunnera
Feedback
Gunnera comprises large, perennial plants known for their giant leaves, thriving in moist, nutrient-rich environments. Basic care includes partial shade, ample water, and cool temperatures, with a preference for acidic, organically rich soils. Common challenges comprise of slugs and snails, along with potential crown rot if overwatered or in poorly draining soils. Seasonally, gunnera demands winter protection in colder climates and may require division in spring or early summer for maintenance.
How to Water Gunnera?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Gunnera?
How to Propagate Gunnera?
How to Plant Gunnera?
Exploring the Gunnera Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Chilean rhubarb
As its common name suggests, chilean rhubarb is native to southern Chile, as well as parts of Argentina. However, Gunnera tinctoria is unrelated to rhubarb, although it has similar culinary uses. Chilean rhubarb was introduced as an ornamental plant in New Zealand and the British Isles, where it has since become an invasive weed.
Giant rhubarb
In spite of its common name, giant rhubarb, this plant is not closely related to the rhubarb family. However, its leaves have the appearance of an extremely large rhubarb plant, growing up to 2.5 m tall.
Gunnera monoica
It is one of the smallest species of Gunnera, with leaves of around 3 cm wide. This fruit is barrel shaped and white in colour, though some varieties may have purple or red flecks. The leaves have a rounded appearance and either a corrugated or spiky margin.
River pumpkin
With its mound of blue-green leaves and spikes of small pink flowers, river pumpkin (Gunnera perpensa) is an instantly recognizable garden plant. It is often cultivated in hanging baskets to allow its beauty to be fully appreciated. It demands wet or boggy soil and will not thrive if left exposed to the elements, such as excessive wind or sun.
Show More Species
All Species of Gunnera
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
