by Jan S.
Member since:
June 22, 2007

Help! Unknown species. Name this flower, please.

September 26, 2008 08:33 PM EDT
views: 135 | rating: 9.7/10 (22 votes) | comments: 45

These pretty little purple flowers were growing here when we bought the house.  They may be weeds or wildflowers, but they're very pretty and have a long blooming season.  We've split them up and replanted them. We've given lots of them to neighbors.  They thrive and spread wherever they're planted.

Their hardiness and adaptability suggests a weed/wildflower relation, but nobody seems to know the name of these!  They have lots of blooms and look best in summer.

The color is actually purple; lighter than eggplant, but darker than fuschia.

The light green leaves are fuzzy.

One of my neighbors is quite an accomplished gardener, but she's stumped by this one.

We've looked online and can't find anything that looks like this.

Anyone know what the name is?
link to this page
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Comments: 45

sheila ~the hapless housewife~ j. Sep 26, 2008, 8:36pm EDT
I have no idea, but it's very pretty!
Carol B Sep 26, 2008, 8:45pm EDT
Sorry that one is a stumper.
Sharon B. Sep 26, 2008, 8:45pm EDT
That is called a lamb's ear. They are beautiful and will spread pretty good.
Mary Ann S. Sep 26, 2008, 8:51pm EDT
Can't help, but here is a ten.
Veronica Hosking Sep 26, 2008, 9:10pm EDT
My mother planted the Veronica flower once, just for me. The gardeners they hired pulled it, thinking it was a weed. Not sure what your flower is sorry. But if it is pretty, I say keep it even if most people consider it a weed.
Jan S. Sep 26, 2008, 9:29pm EDT
I have some plants with larger, fuzzy leaves that are called lamb's ear, but they don't bloom. Is there more than one variety of lamb's ears?
i've seen these before...they're like an off-breed of lamb's ear-the actual name escapes me though...
Janna R. Sep 26, 2008, 9:45pm EDT
I disagree with the person who identified this as Lamb's Ear. Lamb's Ear does have fuzzy leaves but a different form and flower.

I'm pretty sure this is Rose Campion, also known as Lychnis coronaria.
rainne chandler Sep 26, 2008, 10:09pm EDT
i have no idea but id love some seed from it
Kimberly L. Sep 26, 2008, 10:15pm EDT
I'm not sure what it is but I think I can help you find out. There is a site called Pat's Webgraphics and she does graphics of lots of flowers. I have a license to use them in my designs but I don't have time to look through all of them. If you go to patswebgraphics.com, you may be able to find it. If not, check with a couple of gardening sites or with Home Depot. They may be able to help you.
Col. George W. Sep 26, 2008, 10:19pm EDT
I took some pictures up in the mountians a while back. I swear some of them were of this plant.
Susan Kelley Sep 26, 2008, 10:36pm EDT
It's very pretty. Does it spread without replanting?
Marianne R. Sep 26, 2008, 10:48pm EDT
Maybe Phlox?
Judy Knudle Sep 26, 2008, 10:48pm EDT
Do they smell like cloves at all? Even slightly? They look an awful lot like carnations that we grew for years. Carnations are in the dianthus family. They can have blooms that are single little flowers like that, or much fuller like the full-blown carnation. They come in several different sizes. Most garden centers carry dianthus every spring. They're typically pretty short (maybe 4 to 6" tall), but regular carnations can be anywhere from 12 to 18" tall. Also..some are annuals and some perennials. http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/features/perenplantsofyear/2006Dianthus/dianthusPPA06.htm

I'd just about bet they're carnations, but you could always take one (or the picture) to a nursery for positive identifications.
Angela A. Sep 26, 2008, 10:51pm EDT
I don't know anything about flowers, sorry.
Risa G. Sep 26, 2008, 11:01pm EDT
Actually that is Lychnis. My mom gave me some a few years back to grow in the yard of my first house. I couldn't pull it out to put it in my new yard. I love it. It doesn't smell at all.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/flowering-annuals/red-lychnis-flowers.html

This red lychnis looks very much like the one in your picture. It is a wonderful perennial.
René Allen Sep 26, 2008, 11:50pm EDT
These flowers have been known to hang around houses where they've been told the people inside need inspiration and a visit from nature. They've been seen in the most serene environments . . . they appear so that people will pay attention to them -- they just love to be admired. And, the more you look at them, the more the multiply . . .

ahahahah! Thought that would make you smile Jan.

Your Friend,
Rene
(The Other) Dale C. Sep 27, 2008, 12:02am EDT
They do look like a wild flower. I think the lady above with Rose Campion got closest with the picture, even though that one isn't as branched.
Wanda H. Sep 27, 2008, 12:06am EDT
From my research these are Rose Campion. Type that in to your google and you will find lots of pretty pictures of it. I love them. They are very striking.
wandq is correct! and they will spread each year can take over if allowed to
Janna R. Sep 27, 2008, 12:53am EDT
If you visit the site referenced above by Haywood (HERE), you'll see that the blog author has corrected her misidentified flower and has corrected it to Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria).
Marsha S. Sep 27, 2008, 1:03am EDT
You got me...no matter how many photos I see on here with names I just won't ever remember what is what.
Jan S. Sep 27, 2008, 1:37am EDT
Janna, you're right. I looked at the links you provided and these are indeed, the Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria). Thank you! Now I can tell my neighbors the name of the flowers we've been giving away.
Donna E. Sep 27, 2008, 1:50am EDT
Jan, glad your question was solved! Keep on growing!
Linda T. Sep 27, 2008, 5:26am EDT
it is a beautiful plant
lena k. Sep 27, 2008, 7:05am EDT
its beautiful
DJ L. Sep 27, 2008, 8:51am EDT
uit is definately part of the weed family we have them here in texas
i'll find out the exact name and post it for you
Tina Coruth Sep 27, 2008, 11:01am EDT
This is so pretty! Looks like lots of leads have been posted here. Thank you for posting to Help Identify This!
Donna T. Sep 27, 2008, 1:00pm EDT
I was going to say it was a "U.F." - unidentified flower.

Glad you got your answers. The people in gather are some of the smartest people I know.
Sharon P. Sep 27, 2008, 4:00pm EDT
I'd like some but no idea what it is, sorry.
Digital Diva S. Sep 27, 2008, 5:04pm EDT
It's very pretty and glad someone knew..
Georgiana S. Sep 27, 2008, 7:19pm EDT
The flower itself in reminiscent of bouganvilla, but the leaves are different! stumped!
Harrel (Len) Phillips Sep 28, 2008, 9:22am EDT
Weeds, flowers....flowers, weeds. Who has the authority to decide. I feel that if it's pretty, it's a flower, if it's ugly, it's a weed, so yank it up. We have several "weed" plants in our garden that produce beautiful flowers. I love to see fields or median strips with wildflowers throughout.
Carl "Prime Time" Lee Sep 28, 2008, 11:33am EDT
Thank you for using Gather Broadcast, where there is an open line of communication for all and you’re more than a connection.

Now 41!

Someone on Gather always knows. Love it.
Rob Jones Sep 28, 2008, 12:37pm EDT
It's not lamb's ear but may be a close relative. What geograpic are are you in? looks like Arizona, but knowing what state may help identify.
delores snider Sep 28, 2008, 2:59pm EDT
hmmmm its a pretty little thing
Diana B. Sep 28, 2008, 4:57pm EDT
My Grandma always called those "Pinks" a relative to the carnation.

Organically Yours,
Diana
Jan S. Sep 28, 2008, 10:18pm EDT
Pinks is good...we've been calling it "the purple stuff". Now we know it's Rose Campion!
Amanda S. Sep 29, 2008, 6:25pm EDT
It is pretty,I'm sorry but I have no idea what it is,I've got something similar to it that has spread out and completely covered the garden hose reel,and is spreading along the garage.
The only difference between what's in my yard and what you have is that what I've got has blue and white flowers on it.
Shirley U Understand Me S. Sep 30, 2008, 3:15am EDT
all cultivated flowers began as weeds.....I have seen these all my life...my mom would most likely have a name for them, but she can no longer see...she has gone blind...sorry I can't help with a name....but if you cultivate them, they are not a weed...that is the rule...a weed cultivated becomes a flower...this one looks similar to a wild moss rose....
Mariah H. Coruth Oct 2, 2008, 5:13pm EDT
Very pretty! Thanks for sharing!
Shirl T. Oct 6, 2008, 2:32pm EDT
DONT KNOW, BUT VERY PRETTY
Deborah D. Oct 23, 2008, 3:18am EDT
I am pretty much doing "click-by" commenting since I am a month behind and 500 messages await my attention, but thanks for sharing!

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