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Whatever is this?

herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
in Plants
Hi all, found this extraordinarily beautiful plant and wondered if anyone knows what it is please. It has come up where the bird feeders were until I moved them last year so I imagine it will be from the mixed seed but I've never seen anything like before.


"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,966
    edited April 2019
    Silybum marianum?

    Its a name that sticks in the mind 🤣 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    Looks like Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/17359/Silybum-marianum/Details

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,966
    Snap! again @BobTheGardener 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    :D
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Thank you all, I just love silly bum maria num and it means I was wrong when I claimed on another thread that I don't have thistles! It's spectacular and I want to save it but it will get mown down where it is. Can I move it? Or should I just mow round it until the seeds come and choose a spot for next year?
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,966
    I’ve a feeling they have tap roots which won’t move easily unless you can take a deep rootball with them ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Thank you @Dovefromabove, noted. I went on t'internet to see if there was a bit more than the RHS stuff and it appears in King County ( I guess that's USA) it is a NOXIOUS WEED. I couldn't believe the scary article wasn't from War of the Worlds or something similar. Got the definite impression they don't want it anywhere near.........
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    It's a mediterranean plant, often stated as being from Israel, so probably only invasive in hot climes.  Can't see it being a problem in the UK.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,706
    edited April 2019
    I had it,  grew it, a few seedlings from it , then it died out. Nowhere near as invasive as forgetmenots.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Thank you @BobTheGardener and @fidgetbones, I am reassured. It is so pretty I would like to keep it if possible, not really a flower person but the leaves are gorgeous.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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