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Chilean Rhubarb - Invasive Species Information

Chilean Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria Biodiversity High Risk

What Is Chilean Rhubarb - (Gunnera tinctoria)?

Habitat: Shade tolerant, prefers damp soil. 
Distribution in Ireland: Western Ireland

Status: Established

Family name: Gunneraceae

Common Name/s: Giant Rhubarb

birds, water and human activity such as the transport and movement of soil containing the seeds.

Reproduction: reproduce by both sexual (seed) and asexual (vegetative) means. Each mature plant is capable of producing up to 250,000 drupe-like seeds every year which are then distributed by

Giant Rubarb size comparison

Chilean Rhubarb can also regenerate from root fragments, leaf cuttings and rhizomes. Once a small fragment of rhizome becomes established, it can extend by 15cm a year. Please note, that breaking the rhizome may result in the creation of more plants.  

Giant Rhubarb Seeds

Chilean Rhubarb Leaf

Chilean Rhubarb is a large perennial plant which is native to Chile and Argentina in South America. It was first introduced to Ireland in the 1800s as an ornamental garden plant because of its size and exotic appearance. Since then, it has escaped into the wild and is now particularly invasive along the western coast.  

How To Identify Chilean Rhubarb?

Leaf: Very Large Dark Green Leaf 

Seeds: Green/Orange

Size: Can grow to 3 metres high and 4 metres wide

Stem, weak spines on stem and under leaf

Chilean Rhubarb is shade tolerant so it may colonise in a variety of landscapes.

 

The dense stands of Chilean Rhubarb can render large areas unsuitable for agricultural or amenity purposes.

Chilean Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria ID Guide

Chilean Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria ID Guide

The species can invade native grassland and subsequently reduce the value of the land for grazing.

Why Is Chilean Rhubarb A Problem?

Chilean Rhubarb threatens indigenous biodiversity. Once established, it can quickly develop large and dense colonies which prevent native plants from growing underneath them.

Chilean Rhubarb is an invasive species which can seriously effect drainage and water run-off, leading to increase flood risks.

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Small fragments of plant material may be spread unintentionally on shoes and clothes.

As the plant is capable of regeneration from small pieces of rhizome, all material must be handled and disposed of in a way which does not result in the potential for further spread.

 

Management, Control and eradication requires continued input and follow-up over a number of years to deal with re-growth and subsequent seedling germination.

Giant Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria Riverside

Giant Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria

It is recommended that any attempt to control Chilean Rhubarb should be carried out by trained and experienced personnel.

European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 non-native invasive plant species A-Z (Updated 2017)

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There are currently 35 invasive plant species listed in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (annex 2, Part 1)...

 

Click on a species from the following list to find out more regarding non-native species subject to restrictions under Regulations 49 and 50.

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  1. American Skunk-Cabbage - Lysichiton americanus

  2. Brazilian Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera manicata

  3. Broad-Leaved Rush - Juncus planifolius

  4. Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos

  5. Cord-Grasses - Spartina (all species and hybrids)

  6. Curly Waterweed - Lagarosiphon major

  7. Dwarf Eel-Grass - Zostera japonica

  8. Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana

  9. Floating Pennywort - Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

  10. Fringed Water-Lily - Nymphoides peltata

  11. Giant Hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzianum

  12. Giant Knotweed - Fallopia sachalinensis

  13. Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria

  14. Giant Salvinia - Salvinia molesta

  15. Himalayan Balsam - Impatiens glandulifera

  16. Himalayan Knotweed - Persicaria wallichii

  17. Hottentot-Fig - Carpobrotus edulis

  18. Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica

  19. Large-Flowered Waterweed - Egeria densa

  20. Mile-a-Minute Weed - Persicaria perfoliata

  21. New Zealand Pigmyweed - Crassula helmsii

  22. Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum

  23. Red Alga - Grateloupia doryphora

  24. Rhododendron - Rhododendron ponticum

  25. Salmonberry - Rubus spectabilis

  26. Sea-Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides

  27. Spanish Bluebell - Hyacinthoides hispanica

  28. Three-Cornered Leek - Allium triquetrum

  29. Wakame - Undaria pinnatifida

  30. Water Chestnut - Trapa natans

  31. Water Fern - Azolla filiculoides

  32. Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes

  33. Water-Primrose - Ludwigia (all species)

  34. Waterweeds - Elodea (all species)

  35. Wireweed - Sargassum muticum

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