comfrey look-a-like

Hello

We have this growing in the sheltered shady spot on the north side of our new house. It's about a meter tall (3 feet) and the leaves look a little like a comfrey plant but with less veining. It's spreading well but there are no flowers on it. Just wondering if anyone has come across it.




Craig

 

Looks like dock leaves Craig.

 

Ah so thats what I have been cultivating for some time now. Should there not be a hige bunch of stinging nettles nearby,? I have the national collection of those now!!

 

I thought Convolvulous at first but now not sure. The best thing is to wait until it flowers and identify it then.

 

They do resemble convolvulus - although the veining is not a perfect match. They're certainly in the right conditions for dock leaves but I always thought the leaves were shiney and more tongue shaped. Perhaps a different cultivar?

They're not doing any harm where they are so I'l leave them for a year before I get around to that patch and maybe they'll flower and reveal themselves.

 

Hmm...I thought dock leaves first of all but some thing shouts out to me that there not I cant say what they are but I don't think there dock leaves:confused: maybe of we had a photo of the stems it might help a little as green leaves are not uncommon among plants:D

 

Craig it`s one of the Knotweeds, probably, Polygonum bistorta Superbum. Common name " Snakeweed" .

 

Im sure david is right, It categoricly aint convulvulus, look at the stems, covulvulus is a creeper and isnt self suporting. Likewise the leaves are too pointy for dock

 

Hi David,

Bistort? Where are the flowers then? That is not what my bistort looks like at all.

 

Whatever it is I think I would zap it with glyphosate:D

 

In this area, Claire, bistortA finished flowering about 2 months ago. It is DEFINITELY not Dock.:rolleyes:

 

No its not dock, still got flowers on my bistort, but the leaves are smaller than that (at least on mine).

And I appreciate the latin element, but i know plants almost exclusively by their common name

Didnt craig say it hadnt had flowers on it.

hmmmm-i like having things to look for

 

I think, Claire, that`s because it`s in a shady spot, it needs sunshine. It is definitely Polygonum bistorta.

 

Might mine be the alpine bistort, it is about 6-8" in height

quick pic

 

PS and wouldnt you know it-no flowers to take pic of-I blinking cleared them so the direct sow seeds I did could get some sun.