First - the gunnera on 31st May 2021
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| Gunnera on 31 May 2021 |
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| 25 June 2021 |
Watch how this Gunnera manicata, located in the North Staffordshire Moorlands of England, grows and changes
14 June 2021
Spring 2021
12 May 2020
Spring 2020
We've seen some major changes in the fortunes of our gunnera manicata this spring. Following a relatively mild winter the plant began to get going quite quickly as the new season took hold. Then a sharp frost knocked it right back for a few weeks until the plant struggled back with fresh growth to cast aside its spoiled leaves. Then suddenly another quick frost put it back to square one. There is no doubt that this enormous, fast-growing and moisture-loving plant cannot stand any frost.
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| Gunnera after a first big frost 10 April 2020 |
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| Gunnera doing well 10 May 2020 |
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| Gunnera 11 May 2020 |
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| Gunnera 11 May 2020 |
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| Gunnera 12 May 2020 |
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| Gunnera 12 May 2020 |
09 November 2019
Autumn gets a grip
Thick frost this morning and the gunnera is on its last legs. Soon be time for a 'Coverup'.
Here is the 'Great Gunner Coverup' of November 2014
26 July 2019
Height of the Summer
July 25th will be remembered in the UK. It was HOT! We reached 34 C locally and it was only towards the late evening that we ventured into the garden. And look what we found! The gunnera is doing well, enjoying the hot days and wet (very wet) nights.
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| Pam's photo |
06 May 2019
12 months on
Tempus Fugit, gunnera manicata. It's almost 12 months since I last posted the plant's progress. So here goes with two new photos. The gunnera survived the winter and its very sharp frosts. Then it sprang into life in the gorgeous weather of March only to be knocked back by more frosts that followed. Gunnera's are tender little things! Now it is trying to move on again following the heat wave of Easter and then the downpours that followed. We don't expect a big year from it in 2019, but who knows?
Interestingly this South American plant has got two new South American friends. A pair of Rhea (distantly related to the ostrich), raised by a neighbour and released into the field behind us.
Interestingly this South American plant has got two new South American friends. A pair of Rhea (distantly related to the ostrich), raised by a neighbour and released into the field behind us.
29 May 2018
A bit reluctant this year
The hard winter and hard frost in early Spring have really slowed growth this year. But the gunnera is battling back.
29 April 2018
20 April 2018
02 March 2018
Something wrong?
Something is obviously wrong with our weather. Can we switch it off and switch it back on again?
Minus 7 yesterday morning. Minus 5 today. Not sure that the gunnera can survive this.
15 December 2017
09 December 2017
25 November 2017
12 November 2017
Autumn Glory
... and the Gunnera is now 'going over'. It just doesn't like the frost and its leaves quickly blacken and bend over.
30 October 2017
Minus 3
Frosty last night. White over. The first real frost of the season and the Gunnera seems to have taken a bashing - the next few days will show how badly bashed it was.
06 August 2017
26 July 2017
July in Cornwall and Devon
During their holiday in Cornwall and Devon, England, in July 2017, my sister and her husband were delighted to see Gunnera manicata growing well. Although it is regarded as a pest in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the plant forms a statement plant in the gardens of Rosemoor (North Devon) and Trelowarren (Cornwall).
Click on the menu tabs above to see their lovely photos. Meanwhile here are a just a couple of them.
Click on the menu tabs above to see their lovely photos. Meanwhile here are a just a couple of them.
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| Rosemoor, Devon July 2017 Photo: Kathy Niblett |
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| Trelowarren, Cornwall July 2017 Photo: Kathy Nibett |
25 May 2017
April and May 2017 Catch up
Once it had started to emerge from its Winter quiet time the gunnera, as usual, put on a spurt of growth. There was however a couple of set backs with a heavy frost (and snow!) in late April which knocked it back a lot - many young leaves, and the flowers, were caught since they are so tender. In late May the plant began to catch up. Here's a selection of pics during that period.
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| 4 April 2017 |
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| 22 April 2017 |
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| 22 April 2017 |
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| 27 April 2017 |
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| 25 May 2017 |
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| 25 May 2017 |
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| 25 May 2017 You can see the result of the frost and snow damage on this pic |
27 March 2017
It's on the move ...
The gunnera has been quiet over the winter and may have suffered the frosts a little more this year since we decided not to cover it over, as we usually do. So the plant has been on its own. But during the last week we have seen some bright green beginning to show. It on the move!
