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Baffled and looking for an ID

SimonNSimonN Posts: 6

My mother, whom is usually very good at identifying plants gave us a small plant that had popped up in their garden from out of nowhere last year. I planted it without taking any real care, just stuck it in the ground in a sunny spot and it grew like crazy. I was thinking about growing some in another part of the garden to fill a gap and am interested to find out what it actually is. My mother isn't even sure it's a plant and wonders if it's classed as a weed! 

Hopefully someone can tell from these pictures. It flowers with lovely pinky/dark purple flowers that hang downwards. It reaches a height of approx 8ft, thick green stems that when cut are hollow.

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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    That's Leycesteria formosaimage seeds about,lovely shrub



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Maybe Himalayan balsam?  Very invasive plant, the seed pods explode with some force when ripe so you may have it coming up all over the place.

    Edit, I'm probably wrong, nutcutlet always gets these right. sorry image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Leycesteria is sometimes known as Himalayan honeysuckle. not balsam.

    alos known as pheasant berry and probably many other names

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Agree - definitely Leycesteria formosa aka Pheasantberry and Himalayan honeysuckle.


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





  • I love this plant!! Great for filling a gap and border interest! It does self seed quite happily although they are easy to identify and remove!!

     

  • SimonNSimonN Posts: 6

    Thank you very much! 

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