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Weed or wildflower?

strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
in Plants
Hi, please could someone identify this? It's in a wildflower bed, and I seeem to recall it appeared last year, but I can't remember if it's a weed or not. Thank you!


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  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    It looks like Alexanders to me, could be wrong though. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    WillDB said:
    It looks like Alexanders to me, could be wrong though. 
    Thank you. I'm not sure if it's Alexander, there's definite similarities but guess I'll have to wait until some flowers emerge. For now it's taking over a corner of my bed! 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Perhaps Angelica if you're lucky!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Lovage?

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





  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Thank you both. I'm not sure it's either of those, the leaf structure looks different to lovage and the shape looks different to angelica. Very hard to tell though. I'll give it some time and see what flowers before deciding wether to pull it out!
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    The confusion continues. Now I'm thinking it could well be angelica. Any thoughts?


  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    If it is angelica then you can tell by the smell from the cut stems. Ours though has been in flowers for many weeks.
    Either plant though is useful for culinary purposes and the bees love the flowers.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    I'll give it a couple more weeks to flower. It's large, nearly 5ft so far, but not causing any real issues yet. Mostly it's filling out an empty corner of my wild bed, whilst my cosmos and borage decide whether to grow.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    edited June 2020
    I'm thinking it's angelica. Anyone know for certain? It's over 6 foot now and definitely an umbellifer


  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Still difficult. The leaves of both are very similar but Alexanders are a vibrant green and shiny. However they do prefer coastal areas but can be found inland. Apparently they smell almost spicy sweet.
    Interesting clip here:
    Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum Foraging UK Wild Food School


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