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Is this Cephalaria Gigantea (Giant Scabious)?
Hi, I posted a message a couple of weeks back asking about a plant which I was sure was giant scabious. I grew it from seed but stupidity didn't label it and now I'm not sure if this is the plant I think it is or not. Last year it grew tall but there were no flowers at all. Just a few big branches with leaves reaching about 5ft. Could anyone please tell me if this Cephalaria Gigantea? If so would any of these need pruning or should I leave it alone? There are lots of buds forming but I need to know if to chop it lower to the ground?
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That looks like a small tree or shrub. Cephalaria gigantea is a herbaceous perennial, it dies down in winter usually,but this winter has been so mild it only went down to a bunch of divided leaves. It is now growing well, and about a foot high, no woody bits except for the remains of last years flower spikes.
the top one might be some sort of willow.
I don't think they're both the same. Neither of them are Cephalaria gigantea
In the sticks near Peterborough
When the leaves appear they'll be easier to ID
In the sticks near Peterborough
Possibly from a wind-blown seed that got into your seed tray/pot and grew instead of your scabious. Could well be a willow.
The thing is i'm sure at the time I sowed the seeds, I had 2 Giant Scabious that germinated and I also had a smaller red version of Scabious and I have still have 2 of the type in the first picture and one of second picture. So this has really thrown me!
I can understand your confusion. I can take a photo of Cephalaria gigantea now if you have any doubts about our negative ID here.
Have you any photos of the two plants last year, in leaf. How old are they? in their third year would be my estimate.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Unforunately I don't have a photo of it. Not any that are clear anyway.
They are in their 3rd year yes. The only thing I can do is wait for them to grow again and take a photo. There was a shortish stem which you can see and it had 2 slim stems coming off it with leaves all the way up each one and the stems went upwards around 5 foot but thats all that seemed to happen. I know this won't help you with ID'ing it, I just don't know how I could have grown 3 trees lol I trust what you guys are saying though as you all know your stuff. But the only thing I can do for you to be able to ID them is to take a photo when they get their leaves.
I took a photo anyway, the sticky bit isn't wood and I could break it with my hands.
It's the mound of leaves in the foreground
I've had the odd tree germinate in a seed pot but never 3 or 4. Were the seed and compost from a reliable source. I've had some interesting germinations from garden club seed swaps.
In the sticks near Peterborough