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Gunnera perpensa - L.

Common Name
Family Gunneraceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Marshes, from Ceres to Paarl, Peninsula to Port Elizabeth.
Range S. Africa.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Gunnera perpensa


Gunnera perpensa

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Gunnera perpensa is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 6in). It is in flower in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Stem
Edible Uses:

Leaves - chewed or cooked[177]. Leaf stem - raw[177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a damp humus rich soil in a sunny position or semi-shade[1, 200]. The top part of the inflorescence is male, the bottom is female and the middle is hermaphrodite[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a sandy mix in a cold frame[200]. The seed can also be sown in the spring[188]. 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[200]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Gunnera magellanica Perennial0.0 6-9  LMHSNM102
Gunnera tinctoriaGunnera, Chilean gunneraPerennial2.0 6-9  LMHSNM112

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

e hammond   Sat May 10 02:17:07 2003

This gunnera is a wonderful and showy part of any moist garden. A great sub for the more aggresive Petasites.

Link: heronswood.com

Ntobeko   Mon Apr 25 12:18:33 2005

can u please e-mail me more on cultivation and indiscriminately harvesting of this plant

Murray Sanders   Thu Sep 7 2006

Bru, you've made a grave mistake on the uses of G.perpensa, the fleshy Rhizomatous structures of this Geophyte are widley used for their Emetic and Expellant properties, does the isiZulu word... 'Ghobo' ring a bell?? They use it extensivley in the afterbirth treatment of both women and Cattle stock to expell reminants of placenta and afterbirth!!! Huge medicinal rating...I'd say a 5!!

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Subject : Gunnera perpensa  
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