Gunnera magellanica (devil's strawberry) — Herbaceous perennial, Rhizomatous

Overview

Gunnera magellanica is a plant with a herbaceous perennial, rhizomatous habit in the genus Gunnera, part of the Gunneraceae family, with large, lobed, green foliage. Gunnera magellanica grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates loam and sand soils and acid and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include architectural specimens and waterside planting.

About

Gunnera magellanica is a perennial rhizomatous dioeceous herb native to Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands, and Andean areas of Peru and Ecuador. In the southern part of its range, it grows in damper parts of the Magellanic subpolar forests and Valdivian temperate forests, and shrub formations on Tierra del Fuego, with an altitudinal range from sea level to 1,500 m (4,920 ft). Since G. magellanica can form symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi and cyanobacteria, thereby enriching the soil with nutrients, the species has been proposed to facilitate the establishment of other plant species. In the garden it prefers full sun and partial shade and loam and sand soil. In UK gardens it is hardy through an average UK winter (RHS H4). Suggested uses include architectural specimens and waterside planting. It tolerates acid and neutral soils, moist, wet conditions and south-facing and west-facing aspects. Plant in well-drained soil in a suitable position. Water during establishment.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Gunnera magellanica

About the genus

Gunnera is the sole genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Gunneraceae, which contains 63 species. Some species in this genus, namely those in the subgenus Panke, have extremely large leaves. Species in the genus are variously native to Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Papuasia, Hawaii, insular Southeast Asia, eastern Africa, and Madagascar.

Wikipedia contributors, "Gunnera", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Gunnera