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Gardening

What do you reckon to this 'wild flower'

(35 Posts)
BlueBelle Sat 09-Sept-17 19:00:10

This chap has come up in two places and I like it pretty little flower I m sure it's wild and probably presented to me by birds I thought it was maybe a willowherb but in my book it mentions hairy and this leaves and stem is quiet smooth What do you think

Baggs Sun 10-Sept-17 15:18:27

If you don't get an ID here, blueb, may I post your pic on Twitter's #wildflowerhour (8-9pm tonight). It'd then be exposed to a lot of very knowledgeable botanists.

Or you could post it yourself if you have a Twitter account.

TriciaF Sun 10-Sept-17 15:22:33

Oops - sorry Baggs - that was your picture blush

Maranta Sun 10-Sept-17 15:38:55

BlueBelle, could you post some pictures without your hands in? Sorry to be picky - you have very nice hands! smile I'm intrigued by this. I follow #wildflowerhour too.

Hilltopgran Sun 10-Sept-17 16:08:20

It is not Himalayan Balm, which is now a listed weed and must not be cultivated, and is illegal to allow itto spread. I get the same plant in my garden and it spreads very easily if you keep it, fortnately it pulls out easily! From the picture it does looks like Great willowherb. Epilobium hisutum.

Maranta Sun 10-Sept-17 16:19:25

It does look like an Epilobium, but hirsutum is hairy and from the photos, it doesn't look like it has hairy stems/leaves.

BlueBelle Sun 10-Sept-17 18:35:37

First of all I don't Twitter so please feel free to use the photo under your Twitter name Baggs
Maranta I ll try for a better pic tomorrow at the moment it's gale force winds and pouring rain and the poor flowers are practically hiding ?
It was the hairy stem that fooled me too it's not hairy at all

BlueBelle Mon 11-Sept-17 10:48:57

Well I got my fingers out of the way for the pic I think it must be willow herb but very definitely smooth stems not a hair in sight
Did you have any luck with the Twitter last night

Maranta Wed 13-Sept-17 09:02:49

I agree, it's definitely a willowherb.

Greyduster Wed 13-Sept-17 09:36:48

It looks like Great Willowherb (as opposed to the Rose bay willowherb seen everywhere). It's definitely not balsam. We have acres of the stuff growing by our river. It has got completely out of control in the last five years and is invading everywhere.