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Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett

Mystery plant




Thanks for the comments - it looks like the plant in question is Adenophora lilifolia.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Looks like some kind of penstemon or campanula. Can we see the foliage? (Oh, wait, what am I saying? I'm sure someone else will be able to ID it as is!)

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  2. Very much like a Campanula that seeds itself readily here. The buds especially are very typical of many Campanula species.

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  3. Hi Phillip, looks a little like Adenophora (lady bells) to me but it's hard to tell without the leaves. Could be campanula. You will know if it spreads like prairie fire:)
    Marnie

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  4. Thanks everybody. I just added a shot of the leaves.

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  5. Looks like a Hairy Beard Tongue, a member of the Snapdragon family....
    A lovely plant, beautiful bell flower.

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  6. Looks like a campanula to me!

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  7. My first guess is Adenophora. My first thought is, it's beautiful!

    If you post this on GardenWeb's Name That Plant, I bet they could give you a species name almost instantly. Those people are wizards.

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  8. These really are the most stunning photographs ... whatever the plant!! Just love this blog!

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  9. Yep, I agree with campanula. I have tried to grow it without luck.

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  10. I do not know it but it is beautiful.

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  11. It looks just like my Adenophora. I'm fairly certain that's what it is.

    It's a pretty reliable bloomer, sun, shade, dry, wet... It spreads quickly. I have it running amongst daylilies and Siberian iris.
    Marnie

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  12. Yes, it does look like a Campanula, but it is Adenophora. My neighbor has these, and now, after a few years, they have invaded my entire front yard and I now consider them a noxious weed. Beautiful, but it's dangerous—love the blooms, but snip them off often.

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  13. Roses and Lilacs and Sweet Bay are correct, Phillip -It's Adenophora Lilifolia or Lady Bells. I have it in my garden and let me warn you that while it's beautiful it can become invasive.

    It's heat tolerant which is a plus for the Alabama garden. Seeds itself and doesn't take well to transplanting.

    Hey, we were hotter in Chicago yesterday than you or Florida. 90 degrees in May!

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  14. Hi Phillip!
    It is Adenophora lilifolia.
    I love it. I have this blooming right now.
    Best to you!

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  15. I have always thought this to be a type of Campanula Phillip... I have them too coming up here and there. Not sure of more details about this plant though.

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  16. I have both adenophora and campanula, and that is definitely adenophora. Besides I planted it many years ago, as a purchased plant from a nursery. Mine has never become a problem with spreading and I love it. Now the campanula, that can be a noxious weed!

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  17. Campanula rapuncloides - google it and you'll see the similaries

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  19. I like it` a great color blue on my monitor! gail

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  20. Campanulaceae rapunculoides is my bet too - very invasive over here ...

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