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Ontario Gardeners - Help me ID this plant
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Posted by northerner_on z4 ONCanada (My Page) on Wed, Aug 16, 06 at 1:31
Unfortunately, I do not have a digital camera so I'll do my best with words. I do not know if this is a plant or a weed, but it starts off with a rosette form of basal leaves, pale green, quite large, and hairy. At about this time of the year, it sends up a large flower stalk, 3 - 5 feet high, and about 2 inches in diameter. The flower stalk never falls over. The stalk is covered with little yellow flowers,but they are not full so it is not attractive, but these flowers leave lots of seeds, which are attractive to birds. Two of my neighbours have it, but one only knows the name in his native language (Slavic) and the other does not know the name.I have seen these growing along our transit way some years ago, that's why it may be a weed. But I love to see the little birds feasting on the seeds. I don't think it is invasive, although both these neighbours have 'meadow' gardens. I have ben trying to ID this for more than 2 years. Any ideas? It is a perennial.
Northerner. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Ontario Gardeners - Help me ID this plant
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Hi Northerner,
Try using Google images for Verbascum.
If it’s Verbascum then it is a biennial.
Ian |
RE: Ontario Gardeners - Help me ID this plant
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Thank you, Ian. When I first read your response, I thought you had misread my description, because I grow Verbascum and they are beautiful. But you are correct. This is a wild Verbascum, and that's why it's in my neighbour's garden - he has a meadow garden - only native plants. I'll try to find some seeds and I have a perfect place for it - behind my wood pile with my milkweeds - birds and butterflies!!
Northerner. |
RE: Ontario Gardeners - Help me ID this plant
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| Am new to the forum (May 2007) so just caught your message. You have a mullein (pronounced 'mull-in'. It's an alien species - probably came over with European settlers. Up here in Northern Ontario (Chapleau) it grows in almost arid conditions (next to railway tracks, sandy soil), but it can be transplanted and self-seeds quite easily. |
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