Great Gunnera

The gunnera is a very cool plant, like something out of a "Jurassic Park" movie set, with leaves almost 4 feet across. It looks like rhubarb on steroids, which people often mistake it for. But the leaves are covered with small spines, and it doesn't bloom except for a prehistoric, pine cone looking appendage that pops up late in summer. It survives temperate Seattle winters, but may not be hardy in other parts of the country like rhubarb, which I think grows just about everywhere. Rhubarb is also useful, but gunnera isn't except to marvel at-- although the big leaves are prized by the artists who make the concrete leaf basins. It LOVES water so isn't a good choice for my garden's sandy soil, but I've had one for years and it is a real conversation piece.

For more gunnera information:
http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/foliage-plants/gunnera.html