Oh, to be 2 or 3 zones warmer!!!! :O)
Laurie

MG, just curious, how old would the plant be?

Incredible picture. That looks like something that can take over a yard.

Glen

Lovely - imagine filling your landscape with this plant, add a few large grasses like bamboo and you'd think you've gone to the land of giants.

I don't even know what to say... WOW! That is amazing! That is an understatement!

MG,

Have you seen the massive Gunnera chilensis growing on the way to Port Alberni? They're outside one of the nurseries around Coombs. A few on the west coast around Ucluelet and Tofino are old giants. Great when a sudden rain comes on giving you (and several others) a place to stand until it subsides.

Cheers, Barrie (Lantzville, Vancouver Isl.)

LOL, one stepping stone leaf casting would be a patio.

Hmm. I might be a little nervous standing under that. If we hear that BC disappeared from the map, we'll know why.
Of course, my comment might just be zone envy. I've always wanted to grow Gunnera. Perhaps, MG, I'll just move into your yard. I could camp under that gunnera and you might never find me.
Two questions. How old is the plant? What does it do in winter (or the season you lucky souls in lotus land call winter)?

A couple people wanted to know how old this plant is. Believe it or not it is only 7 or 8 years old. It is located at the end of their septic drainage field.

Nina: The foliage dies back each year. You cut off the large leaves leaving the stems attached. You then use some of these large leaves turned upside down to protect the plant during the winter. Our friends need to use a chainsaw to cut their gunnera back. The leaves grow anew each spring from the base which sort of looks like a hump.

Pudge: I have seen some leaves used as castings for a multi-level fountain. Pretty cool.

Barrie: No I have not seen the G. chilensi you speak of. Sounds like a cool photo opportunity. Even better if one could get a shot of the cone which is quite different from the cone of G. mantica.

Cheers,
MG

MG, forgive a little levity, but my first reaction was giant rhubarb pie! M

Here's a picture of Don, the Brug grower, in Victoria using his Gunnera for shade. Gunnera needs summer water in Victoria. Beacon Hill Park has them by ponds where it's always moist. They do so well in Tofino. I assume that North Vancouver is a good spot.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:534784}}

That's okay Mora, I was going to kid around and say, to someone like myself in zone 3, that looks like a giant rhubarb!

Seriously though, amazing plant and great pictures.

Glen

Glen,
Have you gotten serious and planted some Musa basjoo (Japanese banana) yet?
You could be the first one in Winter-peg to give it a shot.

Cheers, Barrie (Vancouver Isl.)