Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

unknown plant

Hi  everyone, Can someone solve a mystery plant please. 

A friend has a plant around 3ft tall in the garden it looks like a grass of some description., which isn't unusual but this has overhanging long leaves which are around 1 inch across.

The unusual part about the plant is that each year the plant sends out shoots which form into something like a pod. Not circular but cone shaped and inside the pods are red berries.

Anyone any ideas ?  It has flowered over the years on the odd occasion but  he can't remember the colour of the flower as he isn't much of a gardener. 

Any help would be appreciated thanks imageimage

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    My guess would be iris foetidissima:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_foetidissima

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Thanks Bob, the friend of mine is going to send me a picture, so that may help. 

    I'll pass on the info and post a pic when I have one. Thanks for your response :) 

  • FloBearFloBear Posts: 2,281

    I'm sure Bob's right - I have the National collection in my garden image

  • The plant always has 4 pods which lean over and virtually touch the ground. Then eventually burst open revealing big red berries :) ( little smaller than a pea) 

  • My friend is checking his plant against the pictures of the Iris Foetidissima and is going to let me know if we have a match. If not he is going to send me a pic of his plant which I will post asap. Thanks Flo :)

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    I'll go with Iris foetidissima.  image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Haha thanks dove. Hope there are no wager's on this plant ! 

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Flowers for an iris are fairly small and insignificant. Brownish colour, possibly with purple line in throat? Grows like a weed in my garden.

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Hi guys,

    confirmation of the unknown plant.

    My friend kindly provided me with a picture. It is indeed the Iris Foetidissima as Bob said.

    Thanks for all the help :) image

Sign In or Register to comment.