Gunnera tinctoria
We were lost in the Valdivian temperate rain forest in southern Chile and it was getting dark fast! The feeble sun barely warmed the land when it shone through breaks in the clouds and when the sun set it went from chilly to freezing instantly. Just to make it really interesting though, it started to pour a freezing rain as the forest became even gloomier. As we followed a small path we caught a wiff of smoke. We knew it must be civilization because nothing could possibly burn in this sodden land! We came upon an old mossy log cabin and made fast friends with an old fur trapper who welcomed us in for the night. In the morning we came outside to a beautiful sunny day. Outside the cabin was a simply stunning specimen of Gunnera tinctoria, (also known as Gunnera chilensis). Its leaves measured 7 feet across! What a beauty. We collected seeds from this monster plant and are proud to offer this unusual plant in one gallon pots.
USDA Hardiness Zone 7, even 6b. The plant tolerates low temperatures (-15° C even -20° C), it can be covered by snow for months (1 - 8 months).