gunnera manicata
By Maccrimmon
Lanarkshire,
Scotland 
I have just been hooked by this splendid plant,next year I will put one in a very big pot round the back garden , I am also considering building a new path and raised flower bed out front . Now to my question. The raised bed would be only perhaps five feet from the wall of the house could the roots of this plant be a problem?
26 Jul, 2009
Answers
Remember that it will need plenty of water, Maccrimmon. The size of the plant seems to be in direct relationship to the wetness of the ground. Those in good, wet soil growing the largest.
27 Jul, 2009
Did you say your are planning on growing in a pot? You will have to water with incredible regularity. They like to sit with their feet in very wet soil.
27 Jul, 2009
the leaves can get 8 feet across
27 Jul, 2009
I have a smaller one, the leaves only ever get about 4ft tall and two feet across.
It is planted in the garden in a slightly damp area. After prolonged sunshine/warm days it needs a drink.
Saying that it hasnt required this yet this year.
27 Jul, 2009
hmmm The raised flower bed I am proposing could be built with Gunnera in mind , plenty compost possibly water retaining materials (any suggestions) my main concern was the roots /house wall issue , that doesnt seem to be a major problem , Sue187 has a photo of one growing in a pot Moon Grower although the size will be very restricted I think Sue187's is only a couple of years old . So any suggestions for the perfect raised bed for one ?good winter project for me , I dont mind digging it keeps me warm . Thanks for the input all :-)
27 Jul, 2009
If it were me and I had the energy (lol) I'd build it with 'bog garden' in mind, possibly using a butyl liner to line the whole thing - that would keep the moisture in and the roots restricted too - you don't really want a constantly-wet patch near your house wall in case the damp starts to get into teh wall I would have thought......
27 Jul, 2009
now that is worth thinking about sid.
27 Jul, 2009
I'm good at thinking about things Mac...not so good at Doing tho lol
27 Jul, 2009
if you do use pond liner remember to make some holes in it otherwise there will be a lot of stagnant water. In the perfect world the gunnera would be sitting by a stream so getting lots of water but not drowning to roots.
28 Jul, 2009
i wouldnt waste a good liner just a heavy duty polythene will do with said holes in it
28 Jul, 2009
well it's for next year but it will happen , I think they look great.
28 Jul, 2009
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I wouldn't have thought so - its not like a deep rooting tree or shrub, not a woody plant, even if it does get 6 x 8 feet, and it dies back a bit in the winter anyway.
26 Jul, 2009