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Gunnera [ guh - NER - uh ] , is a genus of flowering plants belong to the Gunneraceae family .
Gunnera is the only genus in the perennial family and contains 63 different metal money .
Many of these species contain very enceinte leaves , some mensurate up to 10′ feet in size .
Gunnera plants are mostly aboriginal to warm clime south of the Equator .
Various species come from Australia , New Zealand , Hawaii , Southeast Asia , southerly Africa , Madagascar , and Latin America .
The most pop of the species is the Gunnera manicata [ mah - nuh - KAH - tuh ] .
sleep together as the giant rhubarb plant of Brazil or dinosaur food , the plant life produces clumps of growing up to 8′ feet tall with leave measuring over 4′ feet .
Here ’s a closer look at the recommend plant care techniques for giant pieplant and other Gunnera specie .
Gunnera Manicata Care
Size and Growth
Gunnera flora often acquire extremely large leave of absence and may cover a lot of ground .
For example , the giant pieplant has leaves measuring 4′ human foot across and reaches a height of 8′ feet with a feast of 13′ feet or more .
The leaves are rounded with wooden-headed stalks on the undersides .
Flowering and Fragrance
Some species of the giant rhubarb give rise spikes with bantam red - green flowers appearing for a short geological period in the former summer .
The flowers are often followed by the growth of small spherical fruit .
However , hoi polloi primarily civilise Gunnera manicata plant for their large , showy leaves not the fruit .
Light and Temperature
develop Gunnera in full sun or fond shade . It favour brighter condition during red-hot , plastered summers and more wraith during the cool winters .
The manicata gunnera comes from a warm , humid realm and can not endure freezing temperatures throughout the wintertime .
Gunnera grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 .
In zone 6 to 9b , the plant may survive the winter out of doors with proper protection .
To protect young Gunnera plants from the frigidity , cover the growth with several inches of dry leaves or mulch .
Watering, Feeding And Soil
If grown in the right environment , with dampish stain lacrimation is rarely needed .
Gunnera develop right in damp , marshy area where the undercoat remain wet throughout the warm month .
When grown in a garden without perpetual moisture , water the industrial plant on a regular basis to guarantee the soil never dries out .
Fertilizer is n’t necessary .
Outside of marshy areas , use a combining of Lucius DuBignon Clay , garden filth , and compost to supply rich soil for the works .
Grooming
If grow Gunnera plants in a nerveless region , cut it back in the nightfall and use the cuttings as blanket for secure winds and freezing temperatures .
reduce flora back also helps manage growth and keeps the plant from expanding out of its intended growing area .
How To Propagate Gunnera Manicata
Propagate Gunnera by part or cum .
Collect seeds from the cone - shaped peak of a ripe plant or leverage seed packets .
Propagate by division after the flora finishes blooming .
Gunnera Pest or Disease Problems
The biggest threats to Gunnera plant admit slug and scale insects .
Scale insectsare low and have protective outer cuticle .
Slugs may eat away at the leafage , but seldom for good damage the industrial plant .
Use bullet bait to keep the slugs away or pick them off manually .
bet on the species , keep the plant off from tiddler and pets .
Some species of Gunnera are extremely toxic to rust and resemble the edible rhubarb plant plant .
For model , Gunnera tinctoriais often called the “ revulsion plant ” due to its extreme toxicity which may show lethal if assimilate .
However , the popularGunnera manicatadoesn’t incorporate any known toxic effects .
to boot , some of the toxic species are invasive in certain regions .
The repugnance plant create leaves evaluate up to 6′ feet and may take over turgid areas of estate if leave to mature unfounded .
Suggested Gunnera Uses
Due to the size , Gunnera is well develop near the peripheral area of the yard , garden or landscape .
It grows well in loaded , soggy expanse with lot of quad for the monolithic leaf to spread .
