cunnion
Just Arrived
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Location: London
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject: Huge thin stalk with purple flowers |
|
I saw a plant which I am desperate to identify while walking past somebody's garden the other day. It was tall (around 7 or 8 ft) and thin, around 1 ft in width getting smaller towards the top where it tapered into a point. It also had small purple flowers all over it.
I've tried googling all of this but just can't seem to find it. Does anyone have any ideas?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 10800
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: |
|
Is there any chance you could get a photograph of the plant for us cunnion? It's so much easier to ID from a picture.
_________________
 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
tschnath
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 06 Mar 2008
Location: Southern Maine (zone 5)
Posts: 683
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: |
|
Could it be a hollyhock? Check out the flowers on my avitar. Do they look like these?
_________________
Everything has it's beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~author unknown
Terry 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
Posts: 6472
PlantStew: 182 |
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject: |
|
It might be a Clome (Spider Plant)
_________________
Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
cunnion
Just Arrived
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Location: London
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
Unfortunately I was just wandering randomly so didn't get a picture.
I don't think it is a hollyhock or a clome. It literally is just one huge tall stalk, almost like a totem pole, with very small purple flowers.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
Posts: 6472
PlantStew: 182 |
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: |
|
Ummmmm,I have no clue then.
_________________
Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 3940
PlantStew: 5005 |
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: |
|
Which zone are you in? Were the flowers on the stalk or sort of dispended from the stalk? Did you see any leaves at all? If you did, were they near the ground or up the stem along with the flowers?
_________________
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Pianolady
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 02 May 2006
Location: Zone 4b Iowa (Map)
Posts: 487
PlantStew: 259 |
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: Liatris Spicata? |
|
This is a random guess, but could it be Liatris Spicata?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 3940
PlantStew: 5005 |
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: |
|
I've been thinking. (Yes, I brag.  ) The only thing I can think of with such enormous flower spikes are Eremurus and agave. I couldn't find purple Eremurus, but did find a purple-flowering agave. Check out Agave schidigera Durango Delight. It's a PDF-document. I know the normal Agave blooms look like a tree, but some have tall spikes. Most are white or yellow. My, I've learned a lot today!
_________________
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
|
|
| Back to top |
|
EJ
Allotmenteer Extraordinaire
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Essex
Posts: 1310
|
|
| Back to top |
|
gardenmama
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 26 May 2008
Location: Vermont
Posts: 331
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: |
|
Could it be an ornamental onion of some kind. They have a very long stalk and flowers on top.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
DaphDaph
On The Way Up
Joined: 07 Jul 2007
Location: Lowcountry in South Carolina (Map)
Posts: 146
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject: |
|
Could it be Agapanthus (lily of the nile)? Mine are purple.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Netty
Chaotic Gardener
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5
Posts: 4232
PlantStew: 4072 |
| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:03 am Post subject: |
|
My first thoughts were Liatris or Foxglove. A picture would be very helpful.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
cunnion
Just Arrived
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Location: London
Posts: 3
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:20 am Post subject: |
|
It was a Echium Pininana! I've just googled it and it looks exactly the same.
Thanks so much everyone for all of your suggestions.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 3940
PlantStew: 5005 |
| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:10 am Post subject: |
|
 Well done EJ! That's some plant, never heard about it.
_________________
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bookmark us 
Subscribe
