Gunnera tinctoria

Chilean-rhubarb, Chilean-Rhubarb

Family: Gunneraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Chilean-rhubarb is a naturalized perennial found in the coastal counties of Marin and San Francisco in disturbed, shaded, damp areas at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces small red fruits in dense, stout spikes emerging nearly from ground level. Growing with massive rhizomes and extraordinary leaf structures, it develops enormous leaves up to 2 meters wide with palmate lobes and prominent veins, covered in stiff, hard prickles. Its petioles can reach 1 to 1.5 meters long, supporting round, slightly concave leaf blades that are thick and rough with irregular toothed edges. The plant's inflorescences are conical, rising 50 to 75 centimeters tall with multiple compact spikes.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed, shaded, damp areas

Bloom period: Jul-Oct

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: CCo (Marin, San Francisco cos.)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.