Find Your These plants cropped up suddenly this spring in Franklin, MA in several locations near hemlock trees. Never had them before. What are they? Looks like an orchid family plant to me.
This plant – actually there are several clusters of two each, in and area around the circumference of several hemlock trees – emerged in May and sent up a spikes of dozens of fuzzy flower buds in the days that followed. The flowers have only just now opened. The area is actually fairly dry. The hemlocks survive only because of a sprinkler system nearby. They provide shade to these plants part of the day. The area is a border and is heavily mulched. As I said, they weren’t planted and weren’t there last year — they just appeared suddenly this year. Soil is poorly drained, heavy clay, acidic. – Michael
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
I think I have an identification. Since your plant is found in Massachusetts, it is most likely New England’s only wide-spread orchid – Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved helleborine). This plant is often found under the canopy of trees. It usually doesn’t bloom until July, but this year across the country most plants bloomed 6 weeks early.
What kind of plant is this? It just showed up in my front yard and shriveled in a couple of days. A new one is growing a few feet away.
Lana,
I believe it is a Dracunculus vulgaris commonly known as Dragon Arum, voodoo lily and many other names. This deciduous bushy plant can spread wildly from both seeds and bulbs. The flower is said to be fragrant and will grow in conditions from full sun to part shade. It makes a unique statement in the garden.