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Got these from my mother-in-law
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Posted by
andrizzle 5a CNY (
My Page) on
Mon, May 28, 12 at 8:33
| My MIL let me dig these up from one of her beds, but she (and I) was not sure what it was. It is approximately 24-36" tall and growing in dappled shade. Sorry about the picture quality; I had to take them with my phone.
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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| It looks like Symphytum, perhaps S. caucasicum. |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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| That looks to be what it is, thanks Carol! I don't see much info online, although Dave's Garden says it can be invasive... do you have any more care info? |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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Here is a link that might be useful: Mertensia virginica
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by mytime 3/4 Alaska (My Page) on
Mon, May 28, 12 at 23:22
| I was going to ask how to tell the difference between a Mertensia and a Symphytum. The only thing I could find online was something about "5 scales in the throat of a flower". I know this is something that I looked up and found last year, but have forgotten and now can't find. |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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To my 'eye' Symphytum blossom never look fully expanded.
I'll defer to carol23 to describe they're better ways. |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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| I've never seen either in the flesh but both leaves and flowers appear fairly different in pictures. Symphytum flowers appear more incurved and bell-like while the Mertensia flowers flare like a trumpet. The leaves of the Symphytum are more pointed and appear rougher. |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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| Symphytum to be sure. In looking at the pics of Symphytum caucasicum that Carol suggested, it looks spot on. I've grown S. officinale for years. The plant is hairy and the leaves have a scratchy, rather unpleasant feel to them. The plant above appears to have the same rough texture to the leaves. I only added Mertensia to my gardens this year so it is a babe of a plant, but they have pleasantly smooth leaves. Your fingers should help aid the identification. FataMorgana |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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| Mertensia virginica has hairless stems and leaves. Leaves are soft. It's a spring ephemeral so goes dormant in summer heat. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Virginia bluebells
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by remy 6WNY (My Page) on
Tue, May 29, 12 at 9:51
Definitely not Mertensia virginica. Here's mine
 Andrizzle,
I have another type of symphytum. They spread by roots to form large spreading clumps. It is not invasive in the sense that it will pop up every where. It is more like you can not put it in a small border and expect it to stay in a 2' space. I have mine at the edge of the vegetable garden under shrubs where it is free to behave as a ground cover.
Remy |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by mytime 3/4 Alaska (My Page) on
Tue, May 29, 12 at 12:20
| I should have clarified my question better. I'm wondering about separating the 2 genera. There are 17 other species of Mertensia in the U.S. and at least one of them looks more like the symphytum in the OP than it does M. virginica. |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by remy 6WNY (My Page) on
Tue, May 29, 12 at 17:18
Mytime,
I've looked and cannot find the one you are speaking of. If you have link that would be great. Mertensia and Symphytum are both in the same family of plants, the Borage family (Boraginaceae.) So they do look similar.
Here's a pic of my white Symphytum. As you can see the flowers do balloon out. The leaves are also rough and full of veins which seems to be indicative of Symphytum and not Mertensia. But as always I could be wrong :)
Remy
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RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by mytime 3/4 Alaska (My Page) on
Wed, May 30, 12 at 11:54
I'm specifically thinking about M. paniculata and possibly M. ciliata (although I haven't actually seen that one, just going by photos). It really doesn't matter...I just like to be able to ID plants when I travel. If I just memorize what the 2 species of symphytum I'm likely to run into look like, then I can assume the others are species of mertensia, take good photos, and identify later.
I tried to take pics of my M. paniculata yesterday, but the wind was blowing too hard, and any details were blurry. |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by remy 6WNY (My Page) on
Thu, May 31, 12 at 9:48
Mytime,
Thanks for posting back. I checked out your metensias. M ciliata doesn't look too close to me eye. M. paniculata I can see where you would think they are similar. I still believe it is S. caucasium though. Close ups of M. paniculata do show hairs and leaf veins but they are more refined looking than that of symphyum. Symphytum is like the gruff cousin of mertensia, lol.
Remy |
RE: Got these from my mother-in-law
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- Posted by mytime 3/4 Alaska (My Page) on
Thu, May 31, 12 at 11:04
| I too agree with the ID...and I can see differences between the plants. My quest for an answer is just my basic curiousity. |
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