Chilean Prickly Rhubarb

In his Pacific Northwest garden, plant explorer Dan Hinkley talks about an intriguing species from southern Chile, Gunnera tinctoria, also known as Chilean Prickly Rhubarb. Enormous, puckered leaves emerge in spring, reaching six feet across or more, creating a dramatic tropical effect to the landscape. In late spring, a robust stalk bearing brownish-bronze inflorescence adds to the exotic appeal.