Gunnera

[junkyardcat]

I think that's the name anyway...has anyone grown this before? I have a large pond and I want to plant some things that cover up some of the ugly areas around the edge, and also create some private areas. I saw Gunnera in a catalog and it looks neat. What is your experience with it? Does it really grow as big as they say it does? Is it as pretty as in the catalogs?

Thanks! Angie Boonies of East Texas

[Travis]

They are a beautiful plant. They take a few years to establish and get to full size. They need lots of water and partial shade. Fertilize 3 times a year.

[Janet Baraclough]

The message from "junkyardcat" contains these words:

I don't know what it could do in your climate, but in mine (cool and wet) gunnera manicata grows big. Seriously big. On a mature plant, one leaf is big enough to be a rain-umbrella for several adults sheltering underneath it. A mature plant might have a dozen leaves or more, each

6ft stalk thicker than my arm and spikily rough, carrying a leaf the size of a tabletop. The flower spikes are weird, like a sort of pinkish christmas tree, but not what I'd call pretty. They skulk underneath the leaf canopy so you only see them if you're there too.

Where there's enough space, they are very spectacular, handsome wetland/bog plants during summer. I wouldn't plant one where space is limited, or where people might brush past.

Janet (West Scotland)

[Newt]

Hi Angie, Great advice from Travis. Here's some sites that should be helpful a well.

-- Newt

[dr-solo]

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