Solved What are these purple perennial beauties?

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by Sian in Belgium, Aug 25, 2019.

  1. Sian in Belgium

    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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    (I couldn't think of a 'p' beauties word)

    These plants are growing in a neglected garden in well-worked clay soil...

    IMG_20190825_122217.jpg
    This is struggling a little with the competition around it. I couldn’t take a better photo as it’s currently in sunshine. I thought that the bindweed leaves would give a good idea of scale!
    Could it be a salvia?


    IMG_20190825_122239.jpg
    These two photos are of a plant coping better... hand in for scale! Could it be a Russian sage? IMG_20190825_122300.jpg

    Ok, this seems to be a pink sport of the same plant...
    IMG_20190825_122322.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2019
  2. Sian in Belgium

    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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    Just glance at the post to see if there are any ideas, and I was embarrassed!

    I’ve been out with the “pad of i” and retaken them... E63FBE8A-8FF0-4335-863D-7250AB3E0714.jpeg
    The first possible salvia plant


    E9503A79-81F2-452A-AEF6-14D018A7AD12.jpeg
    The second plant, possibly Russian sage, complete with bee.

    065BA27A-9757-4AB7-BFF7-72B3D2D86619.jpeg
    ...and a close up

    858020B1-A2F2-4E1F-821D-89B913DBE8E8.jpeg
    And the pink form
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Think it could be that well know weed linaria purpurea.
    But I'm using my phone and can't see the pictures very well in full sun. :biggrin:
     
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    • Nikolaos

      Nikolaos Total Gardener

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      Like Pete, I think it could be purple toadflax, the leaves look right.

      Interesting, didn't know they came in pink but apparently so...

      Linaria purpurea

      Nick
       
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      • Nikolaos

        Nikolaos Total Gardener

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        @Sian in Belgium Yes, that top one does look like a salvia but the flowers are tiny in your photo.

        Nick
         
      • Sian in Belgium

        Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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        D’oh! As soon as you say it, of course it’s loosestrife!! I should know, I’ve got it growing in the pond. But it has a different shape in water, to growing in soil.

        I will head out and see if I can take a close-up of the flower of the first plant...
         
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        • Sian in Belgium

          Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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          Here is a close-up of the suspected salvia.

          93234B6A-2BFD-46EC-9D57-A5B9B3C7F28A.jpeg
          Each flower measures about 1cm from the base of the tube, to the tip of the petal.
           
        • Nikolaos

          Nikolaos Total Gardener

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          Not loosestrife Sian, toadflax. :) Look at the link I posted.
           
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          • Sian in Belgium

            Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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            You are probably wondering why I had Russian sage in my mind, when looking at these plants...

            I remember that Dad had a Perovskia, many years ago, so I hoped that 1 plant might be lurking somewhere...
             
            Last edited: Aug 25, 2019
          • Sian in Belgium

            Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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            Double “d’oh”!!!
             
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            • Nikolaos

              Nikolaos Total Gardener

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              Was just thinking that might be something that does well in your very sandy soil just before you posted that! Perhaps in the slightly more fertile areas with a tiny bit of enrichment but not too much? They like poor soil, I'm just not sure how poor! :)

              Nick
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                Well you got me confused, which plant are we I D ing ?
                :biggrin:
                 
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                • lolimac

                  lolimac Total Gardener

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                  The first one looks like Nepeta to me.AKA Cat mint..
                   
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                  • Sian in Belgium

                    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                    Sorry @pete!
                    Salvia suspect
                    83DFE346-CC58-4D0E-B97F-6BE09C750F8C.jpeg
                    Shape of plant


                    6FFEDD31-B77B-4898-AD24-5344E09EEF32.jpeg
                    Close-up of the flower and leaves


                    “Toad-aly” wrongly guessed Perovskia - now identified as toadflax, Linaria purpurea
                    88A2CD92-3CDD-4F2B-8B1F-B82D49001114.jpeg
                     
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                    • Nikolaos

                      Nikolaos Total Gardener

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                      :thumbsup:

                      It certainly looks like it to me from the flowers, but not sure which species. My turn to "d'oh!" now, I've grown it a couple of times and failed to recognise it! :biggrin:

                      Nick
                       
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