Find Your Ask the Expert: Please can you identify this plant?
I have recently moved to a new house in Wales, UK. I am curious to find the name of this plant that not even my expert gardening father can identify.I do know that as much as the slugs and snails loved to eat this it managed to survive.
Matthew,
I think what you have is a Ptilotus exaltatus. This plant is native to Australia but here in the United States it is sold at garden centers and nurseries. The variety that I know of is called “Joey’. In fact, today we were looking at new plants for next season and this was one of them. I haven’t seen the plant personally so I am strictly matching photos as a way to identify it. I believe Vale Royal Horticultural is a distributor in the UK for this product. So you might pop in to your local garden center with a stem that has a bloom and some leaves and verify it with them. Keep me posted.
Hello, thanks for your prompt response. My father did some research and came back with the idea that it might be from the genus Echium, unfortunately I don\’t think that either of these answers are correct. I have attached some better pictures so that you can see the foliage more clearly.
and this one!
Matthew,
It could be Physostegia (obediant plant) or a Type of Veronica. I have Veronica spicata in my perennial bed and the leaf structure is similar. I am still researching it and maybe I can come up with a definitive identification.
Thanks for your help. I have no decent garden centres near to me so it is pointless taking a sample to them. Have you considered the possibility of it being some kind of millett grass? It does look similar to veronica however the foliage is what reminds me of millett.
It is taking one hell of a battering from the wind at the moment but new buds are still appearing. I have planted a stem that broke off to see if it roots but I think it is increased by division, probably in spring, what do you think?
Regards Matthew.
Matthew,
I can see why you might think it is millet by the leaf structure but the open bloom structure doesn’t look like millet to me. I am going to email the photos to some friends of mine and see what they think it is.
As to propagation, both millet and veronica are propagated by seed. Without knowing if it is an annual or a perennial I can be sure of any vegetative propagation qualities. However, you could try taking a few tip cuttings to see if they would root.
I’m sorry that you don’t have a decent garden center near you. In fact several of our garden center customers come from 60 to 70 miles away because they don’t have a good one close to them. I’ll keep you posted on what I find out from my friends.
At last I have found it!! Trifolium Rubens or Ornamental Red Clover. A perennial that grows in the Alps among other places. A good soil conditioner too.
Many thanks for your help.
Matthew,
I’m glad that you found the true identity of the plant. I would have never thought of something in the clover family. It is a cultivar I have never seen or heard about. It is great to learn something new every day. Thanks.