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Unknown Plant
Hi,
I got this plant when it was basically a barely rooted cutting and it was back when my garden had no ground cover so I was just hoying plants in willy nilly, better than weeds was my reasoning.
Please see this photo....
I've had it in the garden for 5 years and cut it back quite a bit each year, it grows over the steps very quickly. For the first time, last year, it flowered. I think it was because we had a really long spell of heat. It had never flowered before and my wife and I were thrilled.
We haven't seen it in any other garden here in SW Scotland.
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What a pretty thing - and good ground-cover too - it sounds as if it's fairly easy to keep within bounds - but I've no idea what it is
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Lovely, but no idea what it is.
We thought it might be ornamental rhubarb or even Gunerra (spelling) but really have no clue. It's actually quite hard to grow on but it grows like mad when it finally takes. I've taken cuttings but they never grow so I just root it off the mother, it roots very easily then.
Not ornamental rhubarb and definitely not any Gunnera I've ever seen - I know there's a small one, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't look like your plant.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I noticed that it's best to wear gloves when handling it, my wife keeps it in check, cutting it from the steps every year, the first time she cut it back she came out in a rash, so it's sap must be an irritant. It's quite hardy and never loses it's colour.
An old chap, since died, got it from a friend and planted it in his garden, or I did as I was his gardener. When he died, I took anything worthwhile taking. The new owners of his house were extending the drive so anything in way was being obliterated. Shame.
So I inherited this plant, it never seems to seed but I'm sure it must. I'd love to give folk cuttings but they never seem to take, I could root off the mother but posting would be difficult.
If you're willing to try and grow from cuttings, I can send to anyone who'd like a bit.
Just email me with your address and I'll send a bit for nothing.
Could it be an Ivy? Being an irritant. The leaves are that kinda shape...
Nope - not an ivy. Are the leaves slightly hairy? That could be the cause of skin irritation.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I, a little bit.
I do have one lead, sort of. The chap I got it from was an officer, retired. He had lots of friends who travelled alot. He himself travelled all around the middle east so perhaps someone got a bit from abroad.
I always just assumed it was ornamental rhubarb or miniature Gunnera. It's a puzzle.
Where's Nutcutlet - she always knows the ones I don't ............
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.