A Colorful Curiosity
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Ross, I believe they are a perennial. A tall Bellflower (Campanula).Another common name is Canterbury Bells. Obviously, they like where they are growing. They are a great pollinator plant for bumblebees and hummingbirds. They can be divided and moved around too. Enjoy!
My first thought was also Campanula.
Hi Ross,
I’m no flower expert, but if I’m correct, I believe they’re Penstemon strictus. At least, that’s what they look like from the images!
The common name for them, by the way, is beardtongue which I adore.
They look like Bush Ladybells.
Oh, I think you’re right! They are more “spiky” than beardtongues.
I’ve always known them as Creeping Campanula
Here.
I believe Lobelia siphilitica. Cardinal flower. I also have them +they volunteered!
Or Ladybells?
Wild form of campanula
Sort not cardinal flower which is red. Not penstemon, not beard tongue
Most likely Campanula rapunculoides (creeping bellflower), or another campanula. I had them in a garden I inherited once.
The penstemon flower is of a different form, although it also has a raceme stem.
Bev
seconded! also known as rover bellflower due to its tendency to naturalize. Sounds like it has found a good home in your garden where its ability to spread can be appreciated. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=359085&isprofile=0&
Maybe lupines? They come in blue and pink and are perennial. Possible a type of foxglove just not the one used for digitalis.
Lupines’ leaves are different than these. Perhaps a form of salvia? Reminds me of Victoria blue salvia. The foliage is very like salvia leaves.
Salvia Sylvestris or Lyrical Rose sage looks very like your plant and the leaves are identical; salvia another name for sage plants.
They might be lady bells.
I think thats it. Boy we must all have nothing else to do right?!!
Ladybells????
I have these come up every year too! I think thy are some type of wild flower. Name of them – I have no idea. I just call them Fairy Wands lol.
Definitely Campanula ranunculoides!! This is a beautiful perennial flower but knowing gardeners are wary of this plant and it is known in gardening circles as “the bell from hell”! When I first began collecting plants for my beautiful garden, I unknowingly brought this home from a garden sale. Then I spent two years digging it out because it took over and spread like crazy into all my other plantings. It spreads by root and by seed. In wildish places it seems wonderful, takes care of itself, but in good garden soil, it takes over and behaves like a thug. Just saying…be careful where you plant it and enjoy it’s beauty. I replaced mine after digging it out with some other Campanula relatives that are more well behaved for my style. Ross, if you move that soil around to other places or till through it, it will break into a million pieces and be everywhere. I was sad to see it go but the replacements are just as nice!
I like that – the bell from hell. haha the visitor that refuses to leave. She ain’t pretty, she just looks that way.
Too bad, because I think it really is beautiful. But I also think dandelions are gorgeous. Such intricacy – and food for bees.
Mix it with other “thugs” like dames rocket and honesty… beautiful garden!
I asked a flower expert and got this response (agreeing with most of those who already identified it):
Thank-you for your inquiry.
I believe the plant is called:
Campanula rapunculoides
“Rampion, Creeping, Rover, or European Bellflower”
Native to Europe to Western Asia in open woodlands, forest margin and meadows.
Grows to about 2 to 4 feet tall blooming from June to August.
Introduced to North America as an ornamental.
This plant is considered an invasive species due to its ability to self-seed
and spread by deep roots.
Plant has naturalized in Alaska, Canada, northern United States from Washington
to Maine south to Nevada, Texas, Tennessee and northern Carolina.
Due to its aggressive nature I would not recommend this plant.
Thanks,
Conway.