Gunnera

Description:

Gunnera manicata, or giant rhubarb, a native of Brazil, is an ornamental plant in the Gunneraceae family. The underside of the leaf and the whole stalk have spikes on them. The leaves of Gunnera grow to an impressive size. Leaves with diameters well in excess of four feet are commonplace, with a spread of 10 feet by 10 feet on a mature plant. The leaves of this plant growing in a damp garden in the Beara Way, Co. Kerry, Ireland, are a meter and a half across, and very rough. It has been thriving in the cold wet weather here, for many years.

Habitat:

This plant grows best in damp conditions e.g. by the side of garden ponds, but dislikes winter cold and wet.