Okay, can someone tell me where my picture went? I copied the link in the "Name of the Link" box and it was there when I previewed it but now it's gone. How do I post a picture?

take a gander at the link... you need a photo hosting site

otherwise.. pokeweed??? .. lol

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Okay, here goes.
{{gwi:254363}}

Wow, it works - thanks Ken. Now you can tell me what my plant is lol.

Looks like Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)Very pretty, but a highly invasive perennial weed. Cannot be sold in many areas of the US.

Yes, it does look a lot like Purple Loosestrife when I googled pictures of it. However, my leaves are not a solid green color; they are variegated. Could there be different varieties? The root system becomes very woody - can hardly cut through the root system. It doesn't seem to spread much though. It's grown since I got it but it's probably been 10 years or more and doesn't seem to be invading anything like my lawn or other beds.

I can't see the leaf that clearly, could it be germander - Teucrium chamaedrys variegata

Couldn't see the leaves clearly either. But since you say varigated, it could be as morz8 suggested. If so it would have a minty smell. Only thing that bothers me about that is that Germander is believed to be only hardy to zone 5.
Purple Loosestrife seems to be hardy in colder climates, but I couldn't find any exact info on that. It grows and spreads rampantly in wet situations or boggy soil, but I have seen it behave quite well in regular garden soil. I have not seen or can't find any mention of it with varigated leaves.

Can you take a close-up photo of the foliage? One overall and one with a white background behind a few stems?

novice pix takers.. can get the best pics in the evening.. while still bright.. but the sun is not blistering..

if you have to squint.. then the pic will end up washed out ...

also.. cut a piece off.. and put it on dark paper.. to make the small leaves more easily visible.. and to get a truer color on the flower ...

you are a good student.. keep up the good work.. lol

finally.. once ID'd.. read up on pruning.. it might be a plant that will be better off cut to the ground to tame it a bit.. or.. dug and divided in half [in fall or spring].. since it looks like its taking up most of a small yard ..

bet the bees love it

ken

Here's a picture of the leaves.

{{gwi:254364}}

I'm wondering if the leaves are variegated when they are young and then turn dark green. It seems to have both.

Ken - I actually do cut it down every spring. It grows new shoots every year. We had a fence put up last summer and my husband had to take a saw to the roots as they are so woody that nothing else will cut through them. (He said it was like hardwood lol).It looks big in the picture but it just partially fills in the back of a triangular corner flower bed. It's probably about 2 feet wide and sits behind some yellow daylillies.

Those leaves don't look variegated to me, but rather like they are not getting a sufficient amount of some nutrient. If I find a good photo of same, I'll return and post.

Here's 2 links: a picture and some information...

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/leaf-chlorosis-and-iron.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Chlorotic leaves

mytime, that was my first thought about the leaves looking deficient in something also.

Below is a site that gives an idea of what the varigated germander's leaves should look like. This Germander is often described as an evergreen or semi-evergreen sub shrub becomming woody in time. The leaves are notched and smell like mint. It is in the mint family.

Joan754, I want to thank you for helping me entertain myself inside researching instead of outside fussing in my flower beds on yet another unbearablly hot day. Your post certainly did pique my interest. I am still not convinced of what your pretty plant is.

Here is a link that might be useful: Germander

Thanks all for your replies. The germander's flowers are totally different. Mine has 6 petals which the purple loosestrife has. I'm going with loosestrife "with deficient" leaves lol. It really does look like the purple loosestrife pictures that I googled. I've just never had a problem with it being invasive. I may never get it out of my flower bed if I decide I don't want it anymore because of its tough root system (may have to rent a backhoe lol), but otherwise it looks lovely behind my yellow daylillies.

Gazania, you're welcome lol. You are having another unbearablly hot day and right now it is pouring rain outside and cool where I live.

it has nothing to do with being invasive in your garden ...

it is known to clog waterways thru spreading by birds ...

check with your Provencal authority .. what i would call.. my county extension office ...

it should be obvious.. with your description of its over the top growth and root structure.. that it could be a problem ...

ken

Joan, here's a close up of the flowers of purple loosestrife -

I agree that the leaf color on your plant is an environmental or nutrient issue...Anything that can lead to root damage (wet, dry, nematodes, weevil larvae etc) will appear the same as something lacking in the soil so cause of the chlorosis isn't clear...

Not that I'm suggesting you correct it. Lythrum salicaria has the same nasty reputation in Canada as here, not a plant you want to encourage or cultivate.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:254362}}

I wish I could find information this complete on a couple of the invasive plants I'm trying to eradicate on my property.

Here is a link that might be useful: possibly helpful info