skip to main content

Name That Plant!

Help Id plant, or plants, 2nd try, told could be asters or Campanula

7 years ago

Hi there.

Second time trying to id this plant, still has not flowered but grown quite a bit.

Philadelphia, Pa zone 7a

I am pretty sure it is an unwanted weed for where it is coming up, but would like to know it’s name so I can see if it is a native, invasive, etc.

It is about two feet or taller now.

The first three photos are of one stand of this that I took today. The last three photos are of another stand that was smaller and seemed like younger plants, which I took about a week and a half or two ago.

I *think* they may be the same plant, but I am not exactly sure. The last three photos I think grow with underground runners, but I have not dug up the plants in the first three photos to investigate if they are the same in that way. They grow across from one another in beds about 6 or so foot apart across a grass strip, and seem very similar, or so I though. not so sure now.

The beds were cultivated but left unworked for a season of so, and they could easily be a weed of opportunity, for all I know. They seem so familiar, but are just not close enough to anything in my mind, plant OR weed to say for sure and know what to do with them.

I posted this plant when it was fairly young, and it was suggested that it could be Campanula persicifolia or some type of Aster. I have grown English Asters, but never grown Campanula, and I'm not sure they are developing as either. Does anyone think either of these guesses could still be a possibility based on these pictures?

Any ideas are welcome. Thank you!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Atlamol
7 years ago
Looks like goldenrod to me. Solidago canadensis.
merlcat thanked Atlamol
merlcat
Original Author
7 years ago
Yeah, I would tend to agree. That is something I did grow in my last garden, Solidago rugosa "fireworks" and before I posted I decided that it was developing to look very much like that was.

I think that your suggestion is correct, going with my gut feeling.

I was hoping for Campanula persicifolia, but didn't see that happening the past few weeks since my original post.

I didn't mind my goldenrod, actually. I grew it with very tall dahlias, red ones with a gold eye, of which I don't know the name of, and they bloomed together and looked nice. I had more space then, but did bring my dahlias with me. They are sadly unplanted, but perhaps this is a push to find a place for them on the other side of the yard and I can move the suspected goldenrod out from where I don't want them and plant them all together and see what becomes of these suspects! :-)

Thanks for the post, atlamol!
Related Discussions
Plant ID Help
Q
Comments (5)
I am absolutely thrilled to have found a name for that 1st plant. Everything I found or looked up was close but not quite it. Fleabane looks identical to it and low & behold...it's in the Aster family so the initial ID was right too! The 2nd one seems right on too but I don't think I'll leave it long enough to try the whole cooking it thing LOL! The 3rd one I hope is right and by the looks of it I should see blooms from it in the next day or two to confirm. I'll keep an eye on the 4th one to see what it does as it matures since it's just a little circle leaf right now. I'm not sure about the 5th one though being Pokeweed. It's nothing like the other, although that is hard to tell from my pic. The 5th one is fuzzy all over & almost reminds me of a Petunia type feel leaf-wise, whereas the Pokeweed is perfectly smooth and a lighter green than the other. The 5th one appears to have a bloom coming out of the center so maybe it'll open up and shed a little more light on what it is :) Thank you SOOO much! That's 2 down for sure and a possible ID for the remaining 3.
...See More
2nd Annual Plant Swap in Deerfield
Q
Comments (5)
OK, it's getting close. There are about 2 dozen comfirmed attendees. Of course I have also lost a couple more. Annell is a 'brand new grandma'! and Jeanine ended up having to go out of town to work. Hey, it happens. The door prizes are ready, the center pieces are done, my plants are not only potted but most are already in the trailer (yeah, tailer, I can't get these all in my Blazer, most of mine are in half gallon or larger sized pots) I have counted two dozen pots of them so far ... Bee Balm, Society Garlic, Bearded Iris, Black Eyed Susan, creeping Sedum, Hostas, Daylily, Obedient Plant, Lemon Balm, mints, and I'm not done loading yet. Oh, yeah, the Cannas. Unfortunately they are not potted. No time, they will be bare root. I got almost 60 pots in the trailer last year. Not this year, I ended up having to bring about half as many home ... THEN I had to find somewhere to plant them. There will also be some stepping stones ... newly poured. There are even plants for those that want to come that are new to gardening and don't think they have a plant to share. I will personally see to it that you have at least one plant for your garden this year. I will be goig through my seed box yet too (as soon as I find a minute). I know there are goodies in there that need someone to sprout and pamper them. Unfortunately I did not get veggies started for this year's swap. But if any of you have some, I'd love to have a chance at them. I don't have any plants for my veggie garden yet. In fact, I'm still planting seeds in hopes that they will make the season yet. If I can just keep the Chipmunks out of my Greenhouse. They keep eating the sunflower seeds I've been trying to sprout for the youngsters on my school bus route for end of the year summer gifts. I'll kill the little varmits. I think I've out smarted them. I have now covered the trays with a grate to HOPEFULLY deter them. ANYONE WANTING TO GET ON THIS WAGON YET ONLY NEEDS TO E-MAIL ME WITH A NUMBER OF ATTENDING GUESTS. THEN JUST BRING YOUR POTTED PLANT/PLANTS, YOUR COVERED DISH AND YOUR BEVERAGE. IT'S ALL GOOD!
...See More
Could someone please ID these plants
Q
Comments (9)
Thanks for the replies, but we are still on the track for ID of this plant. Greenthumbzdud said it looked like a Begonia 'Bonfire', but if you look at the leaves, the leaves on my plant have jagged edgies to the leaves, and the red part of the plant is quite meaty. Someone else mentioned a cactus. No, definately not a cactus. Any other ideas would be welcome and thanks for taking the time to reply.
...See More
ID for this tall, wild lavender aster like plant, Zn 5a New Eng PHOTOS
Q
Comments (10)
Xiangirl, that's a great idea -- to pinch them back. I wish I'd thought of that. Next year, for sure, as I imagine its too late for this season. I have an old fashion, single pink perennial mum that I try to remember to pinch back in early July for otherwise it gets very lanky. That mum begins to bloom in October and goes until snow or a hard frost knocks it down. It's one of the few things blooming in late October. Pollinators love it. I'd be happy to send you some if you don't already have it.
...See More
Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
7 years ago
Hmm, think I have the same plant. I did plant several types of solidago last fall as an experiment. I planted them for a reason, thinking certain species would fit well into the landscape. The crows have picked the name tags off so I am at a loss as to what they were. Let it flower, if you like it, keep or transplant - do away with if you don't. BONAP lists 42 Solidagos in Ga, 26 in Pa.
merlcat thanked Old Forester ( Zones 8a-6a ) Ga/NC
merlcat
Original Author
7 years ago
Last year was the first time I cut my solidago back to encourage a more bushy and stout plant. It worked perfectly. Bloomed wonderfully and was able to support the weight of the flowers.

I originally planted them in my garden to help attract Goldfinches. It worked great and had them visiting on a regular basis with the goldenrod, and they dined on the other flowers I would let go to seed.
xiangirl zone 4/5 Nebraska
7 years ago
Solidago spreads underground. It's also a cousin to an aster which may go along with the first i.d.
merlcat thanked xiangirl zone 4/5 Nebraska

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Aromatic Aster Keeps on Blooming

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Tough as nails, drought loving, a deep fall bloomer ... this aster is a champ in sunny gardens

FLOWERS 6 Overlooked Asters for Tough Spots

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Whether your garden has baking sun or dry dense shade, boggy soil or sandy gravel, there's an aster for that

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Native Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style

By Oakley Gardens

Imagine the garden of your dreams designed with plants indigenous to your region

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Common Boneset Helps Good Bugs Thrive

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Support bees, moths and butterflies with the nectar of this low-maintenance, versatile and tactile prairie-style plant

NATIVE PLANTS Great Design Plant: Wild Bergamot, Friend of Foragers

By Pollination Press LLC

Nourish butterflies and other winged creatures with the tubular flowers of Monarda fistulosa, a pretty pink native

FLOWERS AND PLANTS This Sunny Yellow Flower Helps Fall Pollinators and Landscapes

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Oligoneuron riddellii’s distinct grass-like leaves and bright flowers jazz up the garden in the upper Midwest and Central Plains

GARDENING GUIDES Invite Mining Bees to Your Garden by Planting Their Favorite Plants

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for mining bees (Andrena) pollinating woodland wildflowers in U.S. gardens this spring

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

FLOWERS Rudbeckia Mania: Go Beyond Black-Eyed Susan in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Branch out from typical nursery fare, with lesser-known Rudbeckia species that have delightfully unexpected features

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES 3 Ways Native Plants Make Gardening So Much Better

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

You probably know about the lower maintenance. But native plants' other benefits go far beyond a little less watering and weeding

Sponsored

More Discussions

Anyone know what this type of salvia is?

18

What mint species?

9

Quilty leaved unknown patio crack vollunteer?

8

Polygonatum multiflorum or ??

4

Volunteer plant. Leaves similar to dandelion but more coarse & prickly

5