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What type of gunnera is this?

kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_ Posts: 11
in Plants
I've  had  this  plant  for  about  10 years and it's a lovely specimen. I have some smaller ones to give away so want to let people know what they are getting. Please help.
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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,818
    edited June 2021
    If it's a gunnera it will be manicata but I don't think it's a gunnera as they have spiky stems and rougher, coarser foliage in my experience.

    It looks to me more like one of the rheum palmatum family - ornamental rhubarb which can have cream or pink flowers and a softer leaf..


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,591
    Not Gunnera, I don't think.
    Probably one of the Rheums.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_ Posts: 11
    I've found this one which has similar flowers but the blurb says the leaves turn purple in the autumn and mine stay green til they die
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,818
    edited June 2021
    That colouring may be particular to the tangutika form.   Some are purple all thru the growing season.  Some start purple and go green.  Some stay green.

    EG - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/96006/Rheum-palmatum-Atrosanguineum/Details
    and https://www.perfectplantings.co.uk/store/Rheum-palmatum-Rubrum-p291327665 
    and https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/conditions/plants-for-damp-conditions/rheum-palmatum-tanguticum.htm  

    Just tell people it's a rheum palmatum aka ornamental rhubarb and not edible.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_ Posts: 11
    Thanks Obelixx I just found info 9n this plant which it seems likely to be but it says the stems are edible on the website. I can't grow actual rhubarb  in my garden only in raised bed
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,818
    edited June 2021
    I've edited my earlier post with some examples.

    I suspect yours is just the bog standard rheum palmatum form.   It is definitely not the edible form - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/rhubarb 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_ Posts: 11

  • kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_ Posts: 11
    It's definately  much bigger than my rhubarb plants I purchased for eating Obelixx 
  • kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_kellymcpheat4078-eNo6_ Posts: 11
    Obelixx I have just seen one of your sources is Beth Chatto. I don't live far from there. I will take a leaf and the seed head when it opens up. Thank you
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Rheum palmatum Lovely plant. I wish I'd planted it instead of Gunnera. Still love my Gunneras though.
    I live on the edge of a wetland and Rheum grows along the banks ..garden escapees most likely. (Or dumped)

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