Only riparian and aquatic vegetation tolerates sustained soil saturation. Chilean rhubarb, Gunnera tinctoria, almost qualifies as such. It enjoys such generous irrigation that it may perform well on a bank of a pond or stream. However, it should be sufficiently high on its bank to avoid constant saturation. Otherwise, it can rot, likely during its winter dormancy.
Chilean rhubarb is a spectacular foliar plants. Its humongous lobed leaves may grow six feet wide and eight feet tall. Although they succumb to mild frost, they regenerate quickly from rhizomes for spring. Leaves and petioles have a rather raspy texture, with small soft spines. Odd conical floral spikes that bloom about now might grow nearly three feet high.
Although not related to real rhubarb, Chilean rhubarb is as edible as its name implies. Its big petioles only need peeling to remove the raspy exteriors. Locally, Chilean rhubarb is more of a striking ornamental perennial. It is as appropriate to woodsy gardens as it is to sleek modern gardens. The absence of its bold foliage for winter is the main disincentive for its usage.
Tony Tomeo 
I’ve never heard of Chilean Rhubarb, who comes up with these names? Gunnera tinctoria was named as an invasive non- native here in 2017 as it has become a seroius problem in wetter parts of Ireland and Scotland. Gunnera manicata from Brazil was not considered a problem and indeed appears to have disappeared. But recently they have discoverd a new hybrid between the two called Gunnera x cryptica. I used to grow Gunnera tinctoria by my pond but it never got very big like the specimens you see in Cornish gardens. But now it is an offence to sell or plant any large leafed gunnera.
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Yes, that is a silly name. We know it simply as ‘gunnera’ here. I used the name of Chilean rhubarb because I thought it would be more correct. Now I wonder how many who read the garden column, which appears only in California, will initially wonder what I wrote about. As big and voracious as it eventually gets, it is not so easy to get established. We have been trying to move pieces of ours to other locations for a few years. The pups just put out a few small leaves, and one just rotted and died. I want to grow at least one in my home garden. Because of the minimal humidity here, they live only in riparian landscapes, or where they get a lot of water.
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Never heard of this variety. Does it taste anything like the regular rhubarb?
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No; and I can find no other information about the flavor other than it is nothing like rhubarb. I felt compelled to mention that it is edible for the gardening column, although I know of no one who actually eats it.
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