skip to main content

Name That Plant!

million dollar question. what is it?

11 years ago

Several people have asked what this is, and have spent hours looking for it! Nobody has come close yet. We're in zone 4 but doubtful this is a zone 4 plant. It starts in the summer with big green leaves and turns into this pink fountaining wonder. It's about 5 feet tall, grew fast. And it's a beautiful pink fountain. The plant was here when we moved in. Please help :)

The leaves you see by it are from a different plant.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

abgardeneer
11 years ago
Amaranthus caudatus.
kaliaman
11 years ago
these are very commonly used in commercial landscapes and garden beds but further south of where you are in zone 4

they come in a very wide range of shapes, sizes and colors
Related Discussions
Mowing The Renovated Lawn
Q
Comments (3)
I'm sure I am going to run into that problem too with my reseeding project I started Saturday. From my experience I would say the answer is... there is no perfect answer. You kind of try to hit a happy medium. I generally wait as long as I think I can with the bigger grass and then, hoping most of the seed is germinated or far enough along I can lay off the watering a little, let it dry enough to mow without major damage and mow as gingerly as possible (turning on walks, etc when possible.) But, I had one wheel track I could see all summer the next summer in an area where it didn't drain as well and stayed wetter. I should have let that area go longer or get drier. Its very much a case by case area by area kind of decision.
...See More
First Attempt & Question
Q
Comments (7)
Nice job on the boxes! I concur with Alison that you should grow what you like to eat. That's what I am doing with my first year gardening. I've got just over 130 SF of space so I'm growing over a dozen veggies. With your 24 SF, you can grow salad for a couple for the season, plus a veggie every night. It's an incredible amount of space. For your first crops, I'd recommend the cool weather crops, like lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, peas, carrots, etc. Radishes are great too as Alison said. Finally, if you want to see what not to do (and some of what TO DO), check out my blog. It's a light hearted look at my first year gardening with the SFG method. Best of luck to you! Enjoy the process and the results! Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's gardening adventure!
...See More
Suggestions for vine
Q
Comments (6)
Another more obscure one to consider is Golden Guinea Vine (Hibbertia scandens). It can spread out fairly fast and send out climbing tendrils, but it is not "invasive" at all (unlike Japanese Wisteria). It is very manageable and the vines can easily be cut back, and the plant will not spread at all if you do not want it to. It has lush attractive looking leaves and has beautiful yellow flowers. It will send out a few flowers throughout the year, but mostly it seems to flower abundantly in June. https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2206/1806368948_135b480cb8_b.jpg http://savage.net.au/Flowers/Hibbertia.scandens.3.jpg It is one of the few vines that can flower in the shade, though the plant will produce more flowers in full sun. However, the individual flowers will only last 2 or 3 days exposed to full sun in a hot climate, so there is some benefit to less sun exposure. It's growth pattern is halfway between a bush and a vine, it is like a bush that is not really good at holding itself up, and likes to climb up surrounding structures a little bit.
...See More
Million Dollar Drapery Question: Ceiling Mount or Wall Mount
Q
Comments (8)
Good question for M Miller or Patricia Colwell Consulting "Is it possible or preferable to install the track before finishing the ceiling in new construction or does the window contract install this into the drywall? " Seems like before finishing is logical, but I don't know for sure.
...See More
kari0868
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks so much!!! You must know your plants. Here's a better picture. This variety has large leaves and some of the plants were over 6' tall! kind of grew like a tree in that it didnt fill out at the bottom at all, and all the pink/purple fountains stayed 6"-8" or so in length. is it still Amaranthus caudatus? Thank you so much :)
abgardeneer
11 years ago
I believe so, though Acalypha hispida is similar... more likely to be Amaranthus caudatus in zone 4 where it's grown as an annual.
kari0868
Original Author
11 years ago
Yea! The Acalypha hispida looks a lot like it! It grew tall but didnt fill out on the sides and the top part bloomed these beautiful pink/purple fountains that took everyone's breath away. Just durimg the last month if summer. People took pictures and pieces and seeds...everyone was trying to figure it out. That's amazing you figured that out so fast! Thank you so much. :)
User
11 years ago
Polygonum orientale?

Here is a link that might be useful: âKiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gateâ
abgardeneer
11 years ago
Great suggestion! Kari, do you have any closer photos of the flowers or ones that would show the stems (i.e. the stem junctions which are rather distinctive in Polygonum)?
kari0868
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, it could definitely be Polygonum orientale! Good call. It's tall like that and the blooms are shorter and more uniform. Wow! Tough call. I had no idea there was so many similar looking plants. I gotta find a bigger computer screen to look better. Thanks so very much! This is amazing.
kari0868
Original Author
11 years ago
Goodness, I wished I did now. I know they weren't "fuzzy" feeling but more seedy feeling. Lots of people took some home to try to re-grow them.

Related Stories

HOME OFFICES Guest Picks: Million Dollar Decorator's Glam Office

By Valorie Hart

In Honor of the Season Finale, an Inexpensive Alternative to One of Their Pricey Designs

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 15 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Real Estate Agent

By Laura Gaskill

Here’s what you should find out before selecting an agent to sell your home

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

VINTAGE STYLE Bet Your Bottom Dollar on Cane Chairs for Stylish Seating

By Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

Cane and Chippendale-style chairs are so easy to customize, you can make one work in a dining space or home office of any style

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Questions to Ask When Planning a Kitchen Pantry

By Susan Redman

Avoid blunders and get the storage space and layout you need by asking these questions before you begin

Easy Green: 6 Must-Answer Questions Before You Buy

By Laura Gaskill

Thinking about buying ecofriendly furniture? For a truly environmentally conscious home, ask yourself these questions first

WORKING WITH PROS 12 Questions Your Interior Designer Should Ask You

By Mike Dietrich

The best decorators aren’t dictators — and they’re not mind readers either. To understand your tastes, they need this essential info

MOST POPULAR 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer

By Kelli Kaufer Designs

Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start

LIGHTING 5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Get your overhead, task and accent lighting right for decorative beauty, less eyestrain and a focus exactly where you want

REMODELING GUIDES Survive Your Home Remodel: 11 Must-Ask Questions

By Mitchell Parker

Plan ahead to keep minor hassles from turning into major headaches during an extensive renovation

Sponsored

Kuhns Contracting, Inc.

26 Reviews

Central Ohio's Trusted Home Remodeler Specializing in Kitchens & Baths

More Discussions

Fingers crossed!

6

What mint species?

9

Quilty leaved unknown patio crack vollunteer?

8

help identify gamagrass

4

What's this flower seen along the road?

2