Both species were introduced into cultivation in Western Europe towards the end of the 19th century.

The hybrid is more resistant to frost and adverse conditions than G. manicata, which is likely to be why it has replaced it in cultivation.

The leaves may be slightly asymmetrical, and have 5–7 conspicuous lobes, usually with pointed tips, and with toothed margins.

[1] Gunnera × cryptica may be distinguished from G. manicata by the open sinus at the leaf base.

It may be distinguished from G. tinctoria by the presence of basal leaf lobes that sometimes slightly overlap.

[1][2] Gunnera × cryptica has hybrid vigour, and is more resistant to frost and adverse conditions than G. manicata, which is likely to be why it replaced it in cultivation.

[3] In cultivation, the name of the other parent, G. manicata Linden ex André, has regularly been applied to the hybrid G. × cryptica, which has also been treated as a variety of G. scabra (i.e. G. tinctoria), either var.