I have attached pictures of the plant. What I know about this plant: It dies down in the winter. It's leaves have anywhere from 5 to 10 points. It is an Angiosperm. It grows best in afternoon shade. The largest I have seen it grow, so far, is about 16 feet. The largest leaf I have seen so far is about 1 foot wide. I believe it is of the gunnera genus of South America. It is definately not native to Georgia and north Florida, though it thrives here. It produces 3 seeds per pod and grows about 15 pods per grouping and around 75 pods a year. This is the only information I can give accept that I have heard it called a mosquito plant, but I know that that isn't really it. I would really appreciate it if I could get some feedback. Thankyou.
Actually Northern Peidmont Georgia. And it doesn't come back, I should of worded it different. We have to replant it.
OK, yeah it is tender. Those are nice. I grow that in my garden some years too. It does not always do too well in cool Vancouver though. I used to live in Georgia and grew it there as well. The leaves get so amazingly huge, the whole plant really, in just one season. The seeds are quite beautiful as well. It is perennial in the tropics. A word of caution. It is very toxic--0ne of the most toxic plants. Yet it is the source of castor oil as well. The seeds are very toxic, so caution with children around who might be attracted to them.
The red variety 'Carmencita' is very striking. The tropical section at VanDusen Botanical Garden here in Vancouver has some huge plants, along with cannas and bananas and gingers. Very impressive.
