Huge leaves big plant

Discussion in 'Plant ID' started by Tina, May 11, 2012.

  1. Tina

    Tina Young Pine

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    This plant is taking so much of prime spot in my front yard. I have to move it anyways. shall I throw it away or is this worth keeping?


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    ( photo / image / picture from Tina's Garden )





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    ( photo / image / picture from Tina's Garden )
     
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  3. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    You say big plant and huge leaves, what sizes are you talking about. I have a 5.5 foot tall 4 foot wide Cardoon that I call big and huge, but your plant doesn't look nearly that big.
    Knowing the size will help ID it too. ;)
     
  4. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    It looks like Comfrey
    Symphytum officinale (Comfrey)
    Some people swear by its healing properties. I have one and the Hummers love it! I'd save it :)
     
  5. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

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    Tina, Netty may be right as I don't know what comfrey looks like, but could it be coneflower? that is what it looks like to me. Have you had it there for more than this year? if so and it didn't flower I wouldn't think it was coneflower then. Is the foliage soft or stiff? coneflower is kind of stiff feeling. Almost prickly from the hairs on the leaves.
     



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  6. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I was leaning towards Coneflower too because the leaves on her plant have sawtoothed edges whereas Comfrey leaves do not.
    I will have to check the edges of my Coneflower leaves tomorrow but I don't think they are pronouncedly sawtoothed as the plant in the photo either.
     
  7. Tina

    Tina Young Pine

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    I have been looking around, and I think it is a foxglove. I dont really like a foxglove in my front yard. When do I move it?
     
  8. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

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    Tina, I think you may be right. I don't have any, yet, and the new growth at the center of the plant was kind of throwing me off. It looks too soft to be coneflowers, but not for foxglove.

    I am not sure I would suggest trying to transplant one this size. wait to let it flower and them pull the whole plant out . I think they have a tap root and this is way too large to move. If it was a seedling then it is possible to move it. If you don't want it in your lawn, treat it as a weed. Pull it out and dispose of it.
     
  9. calinromania

    calinromania Young Pine

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    I would not move it.
    These are short-lived plants. At least in my garden, first year the grow, second year they bloom and seed, and then they are GONE.
    Some do come back in the 3rd year but it's a miracle :) and they never look great, as in the 2nd year. Or it's just producing offsets and the middle is dead anyway.
     
  10. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Once foxglove is that big it is usually its last flowering year. Wait and enjoy the blooms,. You can then pull it. I usually pull after they set seed and then sprinkle the seeds around for the following years. If you leave it the main plant will get raggedy, I cut it and there will be smaller offsets that will bloom next year. I wouldn't bother moving it. Foxglove are a native plant and do well in a cottage garden. I weed them out of places I don't want them and scatter seeds where I think I'd like them. They like disturbed sites and aren't very competitive. They bloom in June and July here. Photos are some roadside plants and some yard plants from previous years.

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    my favorites, along with the lupines :) ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

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    White foxglove (digitalis) and others ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
     
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  11. calinromania

    calinromania Young Pine

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    Wow Jewell,
    Nice pics.
    I got pink and white ones.
    Do I see an orange/peach colored one in your pic??? Or it's just the camera?
     
  12. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Sorry Calin, its just a night shot and poor color. The natives are white and different shades of pink to maroon. Wonder if there is an orange one out there?
     
  13. Tina

    Tina Young Pine

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    So, this was indeed a Foxglove afterall.



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    ( photo / image / picture from Tina's Garden )
     
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  14. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Oohhh, lucky you! Very pretty :)
     
  15. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

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    Tina, it is a beautiful one, too.
     
  16. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Wow! It is different from the self-sowing floxgloves I have. I was going to bet it was the seed, burdock.
     

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