Mystery plant

[mumsie-to-three]

Anyone know what this plant is?

I planted 10 gladiolus butterfly, belinda bulbs and these long stems appeared with a funny bud on top. I've been waiting for several weeks for them to open so I can see what they are. The picture on the packet of bulbs doesn't look anything like this!

[captainbovine]

oooh nom nom...what time are we having them?:-D

I think that plant is a lavatera...probably an annual one, it looks like the one my neighbour gave me, it grows about 3ft high with nice flowers she said.

teasles are soft before they open and dry hard I think.

[mumsie-to-three]

No it's not lavatera. Have just remembered it's Lady’s Mantle. Looks lovely after it's rained.

[captainbovine]

oh gawd, that stuff is a nightmare it spreads like mad!!:_| granted it looks lovely but I take the flower heads off before they get the chance to go to seed, as it grows like a weed.

that was very nice of someone to leave you a plant on the doorstep, wish someone would leave one on mine:|

[mumsie-to-three]

I've worked out it must be George from next door who left the plant on my step. Just remembered a while back I admired it in his front garden and he said had loads round the back. It's obviously spread and he's trying to get rid of it.  Now where can I put it ...... ?  

Thanks for the tip about taking the flower heads off before they seed.

[captainbovine]

🙂

[10phizz]

Teasels have leaves like thistles..that was my first thought until I looked at the foliage ! A well brought up Coo should know what to avoid .......my husband said his cows would eat thistles if they had been cut for a couple of days and had softened a bit.

My cousin kept cows and also had "waste" from a vegetable processing plant, it came by the lorry load  and was all good fresh veg and my father said one cow was eating a very strong raw onion with tears streaming down her face .........bet the milk tasted funny !