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Plant ID please

HumbleBeeHumbleBee Posts: 105
in Plants

Hi All
Can anyone tell me what this is? There are 2 of them growing underneath a young apple tree in the garden. To begin with I thought they were weeds but as the leaves started to grow huge and they provide lush foliage on what is otherwise a  bare bit of ground I decided to leave them to flower as I was curious to find out what they are. However, they are not showing any signs of wanting to flower so I still don't know. Are they weeds?

Thanks

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Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    The leaves look like either Comfrey or Alkanet but seeing flowers would make identifying easier. I'm leaning more to Alkanet but not 100% sure.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • HumbleBeeHumbleBee Posts: 105

    Thanks Ladybird I googled Comfrey leaves and they do look very similar - the only difference is that the edges of my leaves are wavy (probably not the correct technical term image... ) and as far as I can see Comfrey edges are smooth?

    I struggled to find any good pictures of alkanet leaves but from the ones I saw they look smaller than mine - but difficult to tell. If it helps to know, the actual leaves are really soft, strong and almost material-like to touch.
    Maybe I will have to leave them until next year and see if they flower then - I'm so curious to know! image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    no flowers is interesting unless they have been cut back and regrown. Both alkanet and comfrey should have flowered by now otherwise. 

    I will go and see what mine look like. I have some cut back and regrown comfrey. possibly alkanet as well.

    My feeling is that it's not alkanet.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • MobowMobow Posts: 92

    My first thoughts were foxglove or maybe one of the verbascums. I'm not familiar with alkanet  as it isn't not one of my weeds and it's a long time since I've grown comfrey.

    I'd been inclined to leave them and see if they flower

    Last edited: 21 July 2016 10:09:52

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,143

    They look to me like foxgloves - I've had some which have not flowered in their second year but have grown huge lush leaves, then go on to produce a magnificent show of blooms in their third year.  Fingers crossed that's what you have - but you'll have to wait and see  image


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





  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    I would be surprised to see anyone holding a comfrey leaf that comfortably. I always have to use gloves when I cut mine for compost, the stems are even worse.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    two plants, do you like this as a match?

    image

    image

    or this

    image

    image

    I'm in no doubt but the owner of the plant will know which is most like it.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • HumbleBeeHumbleBee Posts: 105

    Thanks yes it's definitely soft and felty - Nutcutlet the bottom 2 pics you've posted definitely look very similar to mine - what is that plant? 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Foxglove Humblebee, as I suspected and so did Dove and Muddleup.

    Sometimes they fail to flower in the second year from seed but in year 3 they are enormous.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • HumbleBeeHumbleBee Posts: 105

    Hurrah - mission accomplished! Thank you all for helping me solve the mystery image
    I shall leave them in peace now and hope to see some flower action next year!
    Many thanks image

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