Gunnera manicata

Gunnera manicata, Giant Rhubarb is such an impressive plant it needs little introduction. A robust clump-forming herbaceous perennial of gigantic proportions, you will need a very large space for this to sit comfortably in your garden. Down by the edge of your lake is ideal... Gunnera manicata has enormous umbrella-like leaves - up to 2m across - on the ends of stout spiky petioles and in summer it produces extraordinary pod-shaped inflorescences on which are borne thousands of tiny red-brown flowers and are adorned with reddish silky tassels.

Apart from plenty of room its main requirement is a damp position. In autumn, as the first frosts start to cut down the foliage, the petioles can be cut back and the leaves can be placed upside-down over the growing apices to act as a mulch overwinter.