The wonder of working at The Garden Corner is learning something new every day. Who knew that Gunneras, those massive, prehistoric looking plants, had a diminutive cousin from New Zealand, Gunnera monoica? This variety has spiny green leaves like Gunnera manicota, but on a fairy garden size scale. While the Giant Rhubarb version has a massive, sprawling profile, Gunnera monoica forms a dense mat of overlapping rounded leaves, standing about three to five inches tall and spreading up to 16 inches wide. And, the individual leaves are only an inch across! Like Giant Rhubarb, Gunnera monoica can handle sunny spots as long as it's kept well-watered and does equally well in shade. Hardy to 0 degrees, this ground cover version will most likely die back in Pacific NW winters, but will return in the spring.