Contents
Description
Gunnera Tinctoria, commonly known as giant rhubarb, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Gunneraceae family. It is native to South America and grows in the Andes region of Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The plant is known for its huge leaves, which can grow up to 2.5 meters in diameter, making it one of the largest-leaved plants in the world. The leaves are deeply lobed and have a rough texture, and the stem is prickly and can grow up to 3 meters tall. Gunnera Tinctoria is not only an ornamental plant but also has medicinal properties and is used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
Taxonomic Information
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Spermatophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Gunnerales |
| Family | Gunneraceae |
| Genus | Gunnera |
| Species | Tinctoria |
Appearance
Gunnera Tinctoria has huge leaves that can grow up to 2.5 meters in diameter. The leaves are deeply lobed and have a rough texture. The stem is prickly and can grow up to 3 meters tall. The plant produces small flowers that are arranged in a cone-shaped inflorescence that can reach up to 1 meter in height. The flowers are not showy and are usually hidden by the large leaves. The plant produces small, red, edible fruits that are about the size of a pea.
Care Guide
Gunnera Tinctoria is a hardy plant that is easy to care for. Here are some care tips:
- Water: Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged.
- Fertilization: Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in the spring and again in mid-summer.
- Soil: The plant prefers rich, well-draining soil.
- Sunlight: The plant prefers partial shade to full shade.
- Hardiness Zones: Gunnera Tinctoria is hardy in USDA zones 7-10.
Common Pests & Diseases
Gunnera Tinctoria is generally pest and disease-free, but it can be susceptible to the following:
- Slugs and snails: These pests can damage the leaves. Use slug bait or handpick them off the plant.
- Powdery mildew: This fungal disease can affect the leaves. Use a fungicide or remove infected leaves.
- Leaf spot: This fungal disease can cause brown spots on the leaves. Remove infected leaves and use a fungicide.
Habitat
Gunnera Tinctoria is native to South America and grows in the Andes region of Chile, Peru, and Colombia. It grows in wet areas such as marshes, stream banks, and wet meadows. It prefers partial to full shade and can tolerate cold temperatures and frost.
Question and Answer
Q: Is Gunnera Tinctoria edible?
A: Yes, the small red fruits produced by the plant are edible.
Q: Can Gunnera Tinctoria be grown in containers?
A: It is not recommended to grow Gunnera Tinctoria in containers because of its large size.
Q: How long does it take for Gunnera Tinctoria to reach maturity?
A: Gunnera Tinctoria can take up to 5 years to reach maturity.
Q: Can Gunnera Tinctoria be used in landscaping?
A: Yes, Gunnera Tinctoria can be used in landscaping as a focal point or as a background plant.
Related Plants
- Gunnera Manicata
- Gunnera Perpensa
- Gunnera Prorepens
- Gunnera Monoica
References
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/10252/gunnera-tinctoria/details
- https://www.gardenia.net/plant/gunnera-tinctoria
- https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/gunnera/
- https://www.growplants.org/growing/gunnera-tinctoria
