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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: thifasmom on March 03, 2009, 11:15:51

Title: plant ID please
Post by: thifasmom on March 03, 2009, 11:15:51
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 ???.

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/IMG_1948.jpg)
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: froglets on March 03, 2009, 11:22:52
Think it might be Borage

Cheers
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: thifasmom on March 03, 2009, 11:40:40
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:

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/IMG_2054.jpg)

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/IMG_2053.jpg)

Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: valmarg on March 03, 2009, 12:42:25
The flower looks a bit like pulmonaria, but the foliage isn't quite right.

valmarg
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: thifasmom on March 03, 2009, 12:46:38
nope i grow that as well and i'm sure its not that. :-\
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: Garjan on March 03, 2009, 12:48:43
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 (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.
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: thifasmom on March 03, 2009, 12:56:19
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 :).
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: telboy on March 04, 2009, 23:02:54
My first thought was borage but then on a closer look I saw the hairs on the stem.
Now plumped for comfrey. Early innit?
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: Jokerman on March 06, 2009, 21:29:24
I'd go for comfrey.....................................    ???
Title: Re: plant ID please
Post by: powerspade on March 07, 2009, 14:30:17
Yep thats Comfrey I got two rows of the stuff - great for improving the soil