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Can anybody name this?
Brendan Jones
Posts: 4
in Plants
I have lived at the same address for a few years now and this is the first time I have seen this plant in my garden. I think it's an orchid. Does anybody know its name?
0
Posts
'Fraid it's not an orchid. More like a violet, but difficult to tell.
Finding pic hard to get a clear look.
Can you add a good close up of the flowers and leaves.
Do you live in Havering UK.?
Sorry but this is not an Orchid.
It looks as if it is a Viola riviniana.. a wild violet
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Viola+riviniana&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=enR9UdKeJrST0QXJuYG4Dg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=967
I agree - wild violet. We get lots of them - unfortunately don't seem to have the famous violet scent to go with them
Looks very like one of my favourite violets Viola sororia 'Freckles' - I wonder if it's a cross between Freckles and a more ordinary violet - perhaps only grown big enough to flower this year
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Viola sororia Freckles is very distinctive.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Viola+sororia+freckles&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=cXd9UfyNKMPS0QXXjYCoCw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=967
Yes, it's gorgeous - I grew it in my last garden - I've kicked myself many times for not bringing it with me
Brendan Jones' picture shows some darker freckles, but the overall colour is too violet - that's why I suggested it might be a cross. 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you.
I feel slightly silly for thinking/ hoping it was an orchid.
I'm not sure why my photo is so blured. I shall upload a crisper image.
I have been feeding wild seeds to the birds over winter. Do you think it may have come from them?
I think that's unlikely - it's something that's been lurking, probably not been big enough to flower until this year
It's lovely 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I took some pics of some os our native orchids at Westonbirt Arboretum last year. I'
'll see if that helps.
I agree. It is lovely.