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Friend or foe?

Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
in Plants
Good evening
In our new garden we have a number of these big plants, which are lovingly referred to as triffids. 
They are soon to flower, but does anyone know if they are prolific weeds, or something to be cherished? They are 2-5 feet tall!
Apologies for the pics being on their side....Not sure how to rotate when doing this straight from the camera on my phone.
Thanks 



No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Looks to me like Cephalaria gigantea or Giant Scabious ; pale yellow flowers and a good bee-magnet .
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I'm not sure what they are (Cephalaria is a good bet though) but they look more like goodies than baddies to me. Keep an eye, let them flower, if you like them  - rejoice, if you don't - dig them out...
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    Having Googled Cephalaria I think that could possibly be it. They are in a fairly wild part of the garden, behind the garage and quite separate from the tended part of the garden, but if they look good then I will think about relocating them. Glad to know they aren't actually triffids! 
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Paul B3 said:
    Looks to me like Cephalaria gigantea or Giant Scabious ; pale yellow flowers and a good bee-magnet .

    Pics...    Cephalaria gigantea


    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • imintauntonimintaunton Posts: 23
    Hiya,
    Despite aways having been interested in plants and anything 'gardening' I looked at your photos with about zero knowledge!
    But that was until I  borrowed your first photo (pardon me please) and pasted it into the RHS plant identifier.
    39.29% match - which is quite high - Cephalaria alpina - the yellow scabious
    And then below - 16.80% match with Cephalaria gigantea - giant scabious
    Try it yourself - it's at:



    Inherited an amazing garden in Taunton, Somerset, stuffed with wonderful plants, shrubs, trees and creatures
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd trust @Silver surfer [ and several other members here] before I'd trust any app or similar.  @nutcutlet is another with immense knowledge  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have spent many an hour digging up Cephaleria Gigantea. It is a beautiful plant that needs LOTS of space.
    Never tried these apps for ID's I hope they are better than the translation apps.
    Long term are plants going to be ID d wrongly. Surely that is the last think the RHS want?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    I have heard about these various apps and have also heard differing views on their reliability. They may have their place, but on here I find you get additional valuable information about the plants from people with direct experience of them.

    I have a phone full of pics of plants in my new garden that I need to put on here for identification.....Watch this space! 
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Let them flower, but if you don't want them, don't let them ripen seed.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I have several self-sown ones this year so I must have missed some when I deadheaded :)
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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