skip to main content

Great Lakes Gardening

Mystery Flower

12 years ago

Sorry I can't do a photo. I have a 'gift' flower amongst my coneflowers in a sunny garden. It's just shot up since the beginning of August. I'm 30 miles north of Chicago. Best I can describe:

Four feet tall. Multiple stalks from the base.

Leaves are single, green, not glossy, largest are 4" long, 1 1/2" inches wide at base, to a narrow tip, smooth edged, whitish underside.

Flowers are deep purple spikes made up of tiny individual blossoms. One spike at the tip of each stalk and other smaller spikes branching out. Top and largest spike about 6" tall.

My lawn man says it is a perennial, but he doesn't know the name.

Thanks for any ideas.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jaco42
12 years ago
sounds like maybe a liatris also known as gayfeather not sure but hope this helps
chisue
Original Author
12 years ago
jaco42 -- Thanks for your reply. I think I have identified it. It's Buddlea (sp). Glad some little bird decided to 'plant' it in my garden. Now I have to figure out when I can move it, as it's at the front!
jaco42
12 years ago
Glad you were able to id the plant. I am in N.E. Ohio and move the butterfly bushes anytime as long as I get a big enough rootball with them and keep watered till they settle in.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Evoke Mystery and History With Moss in the Garden

Go ahead, lie about age. Moss on garden statues, planters and pavers creates the beautifully deceptive look of time’s passing

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Get the Mystery of a Gothic Garden for Yourself

Create an enchanting and tranquil scene with the stonework and wayward plantings of Gothic garden design

COLOR Unravel the Mystery of Black

By Julia Pockett

Venture into the shadowy world of this controversial hue; learning black's history and uses might just put it in a different light

GARDENING GUIDES Beautiful Flowers and Foliage From Dedicated Backyard Gardeners

By Stacy Briscoe

From lawn daisies to topiaries, Houzz users share their backyard beauties

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING The 3 Ingredients of a Magical Night Garden

Conjure an enchanting scene with luminous plants and lighting that evokes just the right level of landscape mystery

WINTER GARDENING Great Design Plant: Gold Collection Hellebores Perform Like Stars

Exciting colors, longer bloom times, forward-facing flowers ... These hybrids leave old hellebores in the dust

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Iris Versicolor

By Curtis Adams

A versatile native iris for bridging wet and dry gardens

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Find Yourself in an Epic Garden in the Shade

Feeling hot and tired gardening in the sun? The world of shade gardening beckons you to its cool mystery

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Moss: Nature’s Carpet for the Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Learn how to grow and use this ancient and mysterious natural wonder for delightful texture in the landscape

COLOR Let Purple Passion Infuse Your Home

By Julia Pockett

We take the mystery out of using this most spiritual of colors to create a deeply beautiful interior design

Sponsored

More Discussions

Rain Garden Class (Amy)

9

Rain Garden Class

0

Master Rain Gardener Class Wk 1 (Andrea)

2