We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Gunnera magellanica - Lam.

Common Name
Family Gunneraceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp grassy places[187]. Moist sheltered places from sea-level to 1000 metres[69].
Range S. America - S.W. Argentina, S. Chile and the Falkland Islands.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Gunnera magellanica


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sten
Gunnera magellanica
http://flickr.com/photos/7147684%40N03

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 
Gunnera magellanica is a PERENNIAL.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to August. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

One report says that the fruit might be edible[177]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

A carpeting plant that roots as it spreads, it is suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a damp humus rich soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1, 200]. Prefers a cool moist position[208]. Plants are hardy to at least -10°c[187]. The plant has a creeping root and spreads to form extensive patches[187]. The top part of the inflorescence is male, the bottom is female and the middle is hermaphrodite according to one report whilst another says that the flowers are unisexual without saying if the two sexes are on the same plant[200]. Male and female flowers are on separate plants[188]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a sandy mix in a cold frame[200]. The seed can also be sown in the spring[188]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division as new growth commences in the spring[200]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Argentina (Chubut, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego), Chile

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Gunnera perpensa Perennial0.5 -  LMHSNM10 
Gunnera tinctoriaGunnera, Chilean gunneraPerennial2.0 6-9  LMHSNM112

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Lam.

Botanical References

69200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

BILL WALLACE   Fri Dec 1 2006

I am going to try to grow this plant for its huge leaves. Near the top of this page says it grows .02 meters by 1 meter. ERROR! .02??? More likely 2 meters if anything.

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future   Sat Dec 2 2006

In answer to Bill, this species is a low growing species that spreads to make a reasonable ground cover. The large leaved species in this genus are Gunnera manicata and G. tinctoria. These produce very large leaves (they can be 1 metre wide) on large stems that can be 2 metres tall.

Elizabeth   Tue Nov 3 2009

Be careful with this one because if it is very happy it will swamp anything in it's path! I have just had to relocate a large patch generated from one plant in order to rescue other perennials that it was climbing over! Great ground cover though for around shrubs in damp soil. The weeds don't stand a chance! One online nursery had it's spread as 30cm, this is NOT true.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Gunnera magellanica  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.