Friday, October 8, 2010

Need Help With Plant Identification

I've got a couple of plants that are puzzling me.  I'm hoping that someone can tell me what they are.

The first is a plant that I bought this Spring.  It was labeled as a Goatsbeard.  I didn't think anything about the fact that it didn't produce any flowers this Spring, because it was just planted.  Around the middle of the Summer, it began to grow exponentially.  Still, I just thought it was finally settling in.  Then, last week, I noticed a stalk of yellow flowers growing up in it.  At first, I thought it was a weed, and I started to pull it.  Then, I noticed that the flowers were on my "Goatsbeard."  Sigh, obviously what I have isn't a Goatsbeard at all.  I think I'm going to pull it, because it's kind of ugly.  Scratch that, it's really ugly.  The flowers certainly aren't anything to write home about.  But, before I do, I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what it was?



See what I mean about ugly?  I don't know what to think about the nursery that I got this from.  It's the same one that I got the False Spirea from.  On the other hand, the other plants that I got were all gorgeous, and I'm very happy with them.

At least I know, basically, what the next plant is.  It's an Aster.  My Aunt Dottie gave me a start on it several years ago.  She told me it was a New England Aster.  I don't think so.  It's too tall, it's not bushy enough and the flowers are a paler lavender.  That said, this one is a keeper.  It is so beautiful.  I look forward to it blooming every Fall.  The rest of the year, its leaves form a very pretty ground cover and are so thick that weeding is never necessary.  But, can anyone tell me what kind of Aster it is?  By the way, the plants grew this tall AFTER I pinched them back once.  Twice maybe next year?




Sigh, it makes me happy, just looking at pictures of it.  Those individual flowers are each about the size of a dime, if that helps.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

11 comments:

Sharon said...

I'm no help, sorry. But as to the asters, sometimes soil can have a influence on the depth of color in some flowers. Maybe the case?
Lovely, nonetheless.

Vicki Lane said...

Haven't a clue re the first -- the second looks like our wild asters.

Upupaepops said...

without the taxonomic name you cannot be sure

some of the Tragopogon genus Salsifys are called Goatbeard

this looks more like a salsify Goatsbeard ( Arujcus dioicus) has usually a 3x compound leaf

My Mind's Eye said...

I don't know what they are but I think we should call the tall ones Lovin' Where they are Plants...love the color!!! You obviously put them in the purrfect spot.
Madi and Mom

sweetbay said...

The second looks to me like Tartarian Aster. The first one may be a Bidens species whose flowers haven't opened.

Terry said...

Nothing that's green and produces flowers gets pulled here, you lucky thing. We are arid, and even a flowering weed looks pretty to our parched eyes!

AJ-OAKS said...

Sorry but can't help you with the plant identification. I do however agree that those yellow flowers are, well, um, not very pretty.
Love the Asters though.

Inger said...

You know me, no idea about plant names, but I do know when something is very pretty and the second flower is so lovely. it's the kind of "country" flower I just love.--Inger

Jim said...

Your new Header is great Louise! As far as the plants go....sorry, the first one doesn't look at all familiar. The second is an Aster alright! So tall! What are you feeding it? Have never seen ones so tall. Lovely.
Jim

barefootheart said...

Hmm. Interesting! Nothing springs to mind on the yellow flowered plant. I like the maroon stems though. As for the aster, maybe Aster tataricus (Tatarian aster)? You could try googling that and see if it matches. Whatever it is, it sure is beautiful!

TexWisGirl said...

those are just beautiful blooms! i loved them in your header photo too!