Topic: plant ID please

[thifasmom]

got this last year from someone (a non gardener) but not sure what it is. its been sitting in a tray of water all winter and has been snowed on and frosted numerous time then boom it flowered over the weekend. went through all my books and can't seem to identify it. it might be some type of herb but the leaves are not scented.

any ideas ???.

[froglets]

Think it might be Borage

Cheers

[thifasmom]

nope i don't think its borage i grow that and well the flower hasn't opened up to look like a borage flower this is it open:

[valmarg]

The flower looks a bit like pulmonaria, but the foliage isn't quite right.

valmarg

[thifasmom]

nope i grow that as well and i'm sure its not that. :-\

[Garjan]

Hi Thifasmom

I think it's comfrey. Look here:http://images.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=http://www.allotment.org.uk/assets/comfrey_plant.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/comfrey/index.php&usg=__ozW-FNqIO4rykX1ju7REQn4WKxY=&h=262&w=250&sz=13&hl=nl&start=10&tbnid=dWMEAKFNeI2poM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomfrey%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Dnl

And if it is: it is a very useful plant: it attracts insects, it's medicinal, it can be used as a feed and as mulch.

[thifasmom]

garjan

i think you are right, i thought so when it flowered but thought it was too early for it to be flowering. its probably the wild more invasive variety and i already have some bocking14 which is the non invasive variety. so not sure what i would do with it may be i will freecycle it, as i don't want to plant it then forget to deadhead it before it spreads its seed etc.

thanks again, any second opinions welcome :).

[telboy]

My first thought was borage but then on a closer look I saw the hairs on the stem.
Now plumped for comfrey. Early innit?

[Jokerman]

I'd go for comfrey.....................................    ???

[powerspade]

Yep thats Comfrey I got two rows of the stuff - great for improving the soil