Gunnera perpensa
a perennial member of the Gunnera genus in the family Gunneraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Gunneraceae
- Genus
- Gunnera
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.45 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - chewed or cooked[2]. Leaf stem - raw[2].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Stem
Environment
- Range
- S. Africa.
- Habitat
- Marshes, from Ceres to Paarl, Peninsula to Port Elizabeth.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a sandy mix in a cold frame[4]. The seed can also be sown in the spring[3]. 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[4]. 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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a damp humus rich soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1][4]. The top part of the inflorescence is male, the bottom is female and the middle is hermaphrodite[4]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8