Quote from: CG100 on December 10, 2023, 12:48:23 AMPresumably G. tinctoria is already banned? No surprised that it hybridizes freely...they are pretty similar. It volunteers freely in Golden Gate Park, but it appears that gardeners weed it preferentially when seedling appear out of place. Otherwise quite marginal given the frost sensitivity and moisture requirements. There are some impressive stands in the park, often placed under tree ferns (or in some cases, over planted with tree ferns).Quote from: janemcgary on December 09, 2023, 04:10:05 PMInteresting that they use an English name "giant rhubarb."
I don't think that I have ever heard anyone with any kind of gardening interest or knowledge use the name in the UK - it is always called Gunnera.
Otherwise, I suppose it is an obvious common name to pick.
Quite why there is now this hue and cry about it is difficult to understand. Apart from Paignton Zoo, I have never seen anything but (very) modest clumps and in most of the UK it needs to be buried under plenty of straw each winter to protect againgst anything but very mild frosts.