If you email me the picture, I'll post it for you.

If you sign up for a free "photobucket.com" account - you can download your photo there, then copy and paste the 'tag' line and paste it into your postings.

Here's the photo of the mysterious plant from Terraneuve's garden:
{{gwi:538382}}

It's a geranium species. The leaf shape with the flat base doesn't ring a bell, though. Is that a typical leaf, or are they variable?

Am I seeing six petals? Or is one of them deeply lobed?

BP

Thanks, folks.

OK, this plant grows (in my garden) approx. 18-24 inches tall. Some of the more mature leaves have more rounded edges. The blooms are slightly paler than pictured, 5 separated at the base petals with a fade to white in the very centre and a protruding pistal. The bloom is approx. 1-1/4 inches across. The blooms grow in a columnar fashion opening from bottom to top.

The "blooms in a columnar fashion", opening "bottom to top" make it sound like a Sidalcea sp., prairie mallow, but mine have rounded leaves, with a base like the top of a heart, not like the one in the photo.

I also believe it is Prarie Mallow, Sidalcea. There are different varieties, this one may be Elsie Hugh? not sure on that name but I am pretty sure it is sidalcea especially by the sounds of the columar blooms.

Valerie

Was thinking the same thing, AB.

These also grow slightly differently in different soil and weather conditions.
I've posted a link which might help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Prairie Mallow

Here are a couple of my (many!) Sidalcea malviflora. The basal leaves are roundish, not toothed, and the stem leaves are deeply divided, even becoming acicular higher up towards the flower stalk:
{{gwi:538384}}


{{gwi:538386}}

That was why I questioned the leaf shape, though - although I agree they can certainly vary, and perhaps the poster has a different species or hybrid of Sidalcea.

Thank you so much. You folks are great. What a good first experience in your Forum.
I also found this picture. Looks almost exactly like mine except this one seems to be much more luxuriant. Mine is planted in full sun and does dry out far more often than I would like.

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/Perenls/sidalcea.htm

I have similar plants. Are they mallow too ? I thought they were a weird form of hollyhock. Can someone identify these plants ?
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rv_fpo/detail?.dir=ea43&.dnm=698d.jpg&.src=ph

Here is a link that might be useful: ??????

daylady they go by many names around here, mallow, lavetera, please excuse my spelling, not into the latin names. They also come in white and will spread around easily in your garden. People in my area call them bride and groom, don't know which is which.

Try comparing them to Malva moschata.

Daylady: yes, those are mallows all right. Related to hollyhocks. Many forms, many colours: pale pink, white, a lovely stripey one called Zebrina and a deep, dark purple called Mauritania. Mallows are wonderful but they do self-sow like crazy. The plant has a tap root, so if seedlings are too numerous, pull them up while young. The root below is probably as big as the plant above!

Hi, I have been studying so many websites looking for info on these seeds... and just happened across this discussion! I have a Zebrina Mallow... as well as another kind I cant think of the name of, and I just discovered both of their stalks just about eaten in half. Needless to say, I have either a varmint out there or a caterpillar with very big teeth. The only reason I say caterpillar is the other day I found one munching on the leaves... one with a very hearty appetite! Anyway, I have removed some dried seedpods and would like to propogate these plants, but since I am new at this... have no idea what I'm doing? Can anyone help? Do I save these seeds in a baggie till spring? Do I plant them now? A special way or just throw them on the ground under the mother plant? Help?? I appreciate any info. Thanks!!