Solved What is this chance arrival please?

Could anyone tell me what this plant with the spikes of pink flowers centre front of the photo is, please? It appeared this year in one of the planting baskets in my pond, and seems very happy there - and as it is rather pretty I have let it stay.

 

Astilbe possibly?

 

Yeah, I think astilbe too based on the leaves.

Nick

 

Yes, I think you're both right - thank you! Very interesting - I have tried to grown them in the borders here in the past, but they have sulked and died. Obviously a pond is more to their taste!

 

I wouldn't even attempt them here.
I knew they liked a damp spot but never thought of them as a pond plant.

 

I had them in Alabama and they grew like wildfire to almost 6 feet ... but they were under where the air conditioner dripped constantly!

 

I suspect you had Aruncus dioicus..which grows to 6ft
It looks like Astilbe.
Astilbe never grow more than 18"- 2ft.

 

It was sold as Astilbe. I remember it was big pink plumes. I have photos of it somewhere under the bed! I bought it because I thought it would only grow to about two feet, but in the heat, up to 100F most of the Summer, high humidity and the constant drip, drip, drip .....

 

Apologies..I stand corrected..this one is a taller one.

Astilbe chinensis 'Purple Candles' - Google Search

 

Astible Is a Knockout Plant for Shade, Thanks to Its Ferny Foliage and Colorful Blooms

Ha, ha, found the photo ... before they grew tall! The a/c was to the left of the door. This was early 70s.

 

Slight problem....
Leaves not right for Astilbe.
These are Celosia plumosa.
Sorry to be nitpicky!

"celosia plumosa" - Recherche Google

 

Do you know, Celosia rings a bell! It was a long, long time ago. I shall quietly slink away now ...

 

Double posted.

 

Obviously Celosia plumosa var. Astilbii.