Plants in family gunneraceae
Plants in family gunneraceae
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata, native to the Serra do Mar mountains of Brazil, is a large, clump-forming perennial known for its massive leaves that can exceed 4 feet in diameter. The plant has spikes on the underside of its leaves and stalks, and it bears tiny red-green flowers in early summer. It forms a symbiotic relationship with blue-green algae for nitrogen fixation. Gunnera manicata requires a cool, moist site and is challenging to grow outside of climates similar to the West Coast.