Red stem, whorled leaves - please identify!

Sorry I do not have a photograph, I'm hoping to be able to post them soon but currently unable to. The plants have sprung up over the last few weeks, about a hundred of them in a corner of the garden, I'm assuming they are regulars (its my first spring in this garden.) They began as little pointy shoots a few inches high, red in colour but becoming greener as the stem reached its apex. Now the leaves have begun to emerge, and are whorled around each other about 15 cm high.

 

I hope it doesn't look like this

 

:(

I suppose the proof will be if it is growing through concrete as readily as through soil? :(

 

The plants are much more delicate looking than the ones in the photograph. They are at present only about 15-20" high, with the red stems I mentioned hardly visible underneath the whorled leaves. There are no flowers as yet. I've tried the usual Google searches and ID sites but might have to look more closely.

 

When I read the post my 1st thoughts were the dreaded Japanese Knotweed too Scrungee! Hope what you have Simon Z doen't look anything like Scrungee's photo.

 

Crossed posts, sounds like good news then if not the dreaded weed.

 

Need a photo really, otherwise we'll all just be making wild guesses I reckon ...

 

Yes, then we can start making educated guesses.

 

I have two ideas in mind, first perhaps they are ferns. Or may be Paeonies, they start off with red stems.

 

Or, off the top of my head , Rogerdsia, or Martagon Lilies, .... the list is pretty much endless!

 

Lucky for you if you had a hundred paeony shoots!

Anything like this?

BTW are the stems red but the leaves green?

 

I'm thinking lillies or possibly Euphorbia grifithii.

 

Mystery solved! Convalleria majalis - lily of the valley. Identified by Mum.

 

Is that your Mum or our Mum...as it were?
I must say I don't think I would ever have guessed that from the description!