mystery plant?

tarragonn, member

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I rescued this plant as a lone little seedling from a friend's new townhouse patio at the edge of the woods in Georgia (it was growing at the edge of a patio and was going to be sprayed with Round-up and covered in rocks)in February or March. I thought then it was a hellebore seedling, but now I'm almost positive it's not a hellebore, although I have no idea what it is.  I've had quite a few people look at it, and while everyone thinks it looks familiar, no one seems to know what it is.  Some guess have been wild geranium, angelica or hellebore, but I don't think any of those are it. 

New growth emerges bright lime green, heavily veined with silver and on bright reddish pink stems.  As the leaves age they turn a darker green and become leathery and the veining and stems fade somewhat.  All stems emerge from a central basal point, and the root system is fibrous, without a tap root, bulbs or rhizomes.

I finally planted it in my shade garden, and the deer ate it down to bare stem overnight.  We've had a couple of nights of frost, but new leaves are still emerging.

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Comments (7)

Rosecobb writes: As far as I can see without smelling it, it looks like Angelica- a pretty bi-ennial here in Utah. I have used it in a large planter as an ornamental. Posted: 10:46 am on March 28th

JDogRunner writes: I've grown a few Japanese Anemone that looked very similar, before spreading. I grow them in zone 5-6, which is far from you, but take a look at a few varieties if it seems to be a candidate.

This particular image has some similarities:
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/Flowers/Perenls/anemone.htm Posted: 8:17 pm on February 28th

AKgardenoptimist writes: Looking at the foliage it very much reminds me of Astrantia (probably an older variety--as the newer ones aren't quite as floppy). It will grow in warmer climates but you will not get it to thrive (flower) Where you live, it would need a mostly shady, moist and cool home. It needs very cool nights(50-60 degrees F) in summer to make it flower. The veining in the leaves is consistent with Astrantia as well as the leathery leaves, central basal point and root system.

I am not so sure about the Trollius--that is one of the plants we can get to thrive here, the veining on the leaves is off a bit and also the description of the roots.

Good luck with your mystery plant! Posted: 3:05 pm on January 15th

tarragonn writes: It hasn't flowered in the time I've had it, maybe next year.

I don't think it's Bear's Breeches. I thought all Acanthus had spiny leaves, and this plant leaves has no spines, thorns, hairs or anything else.

Not sure about the Trollius, I couldn't find any good pictures of the foliage to compare, although I did find a description of Trollius roots as 'black and wiry' and the mystery plant roots are white.

I'll have to smell the leaves once they come back from the deer attack.
Posted: 12:49 am on November 29th

Sahaja writes: Not sure if it produces a flower, but the leaf looks a little like Bears Breech. Posted: 7:05 pm on November 28th

katie74 writes: it could be trollis (globeflower) Posted: 7:38 am on November 27th

Beadwitch writes: Not a hellebore, if the deer ate it. The stems are wrong, also the leaves are not correct for for a hellebore. Hellebore stems are round and not red, and the leaflets are separate, not connected at the base.Plus hellebores stand up, and don't flop. My guess would be angelica. If you crush the leaves and they smell of celery, that would be angelica. If not, I don't know what it is. :) Posted: 11:05 pm on November 26th

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