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Tree or Weed?

I found this plant growing out of a compost heap and as it looked unusual to me, I dug it up and planted it in my garden. It was only about a foot tall when I planted it and it has now grown to over eight feet in about 7 months! The main stem appears to be becoming a barked trunk which makes me think it is a tree but the speed of growth might suggest otherwise.So far it seems to be intent on growing straight up as it has only formed 1 lateral. I took a stem and leaf to a garden centre to identify and they had no idea!

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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    I think it's Lavatera arborea. If not, it's a close relation



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • vjwukvjwuk Posts: 30

    tree mallow, spreads like................. still finding seedlings from unruly neighbours garden cleared 7 years ago

  • It does look pretty close to a Lavatera, however, its speed of growth and current height might suggest it isn't. Also (by some quick research on Google) it seems the "Tree Mallow" is more of a coastal plant (I live some 60 miles inland). However, if it isn't a Lavetera, it definitely looks like a close relation as "Nutcutlet" has suggested. Many thanks for your replies.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    I'm not coastal, it grows here. 

    The speed and current height is right



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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