Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Central America
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Gunnera manicata
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Number of Varieties
255
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Wet forest, Woodland Garden
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-12-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12*7
Sunset Zone
H1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm2.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm24.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Dark Salmon, Sienna
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Purple, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lobed
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Regular watering during dry periods
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Dilute liquid fertiliser
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Downy mildew, Leaf spot, Rust
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Snails
-
Allergy
allergic reaction
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Water gardening
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Leaves
Other Uses
Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
GUNNERA insignis
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Giant Rhubarb, Poorman's Umbrella
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
Giant Rhubarb
पोई
In German
Riesen- Rhabarber
Malabarspinat
In French
Géant rhubarbe
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Gigante ruibarbo
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Giant Ραβέντι
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Rhubarb gigante
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Giant Rabarbar
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
Giant RHEUM
Spinach Malabar
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Haloragales
Caryophyllales
Family
Gunneraceae
Basellaceae
Genus
Gunnera
Basella
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
160
1
27800
👆🏻