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ID please

CalendulaCalendula Posts: 69
in Plants

Can anyone help identify this please? My Dad got the original from a cutting years ago, and propagates it each year. It's not hardy so he grows it in pots and brings it indoors in the winter (SE England - the photos were taken today). He says he thinks it's from the 'lavender family' but from the leaves I don't think that can be true. Neither leaves nor flowers have scent. The flower spikes are about 8 cm long.

image

 

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 Thanks

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  • star gaze lilystar gaze lily Posts: 17,123

    It looks a bit like an orchid. Its very prettyimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,044

    One of the salvias?


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





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,172

    They don't look like orchid leaves

    It's the wrong side of the glass for me though. I can only ID hardy plants



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • star gaze lilystar gaze lily Posts: 17,123

    No cutlet you're right, I didn't notice the second pic. Sorry 

  • landgirl100landgirl100 Posts: 655

    Lovely plant! I think the family is Lamiaceae, lavender is also part of that family. Could it be a Salvia? 

  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    I thought the same as Dove by the shape of the flower. Wouldn't mind that plant myself, its unusual and very pretty.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,346

    I'd put money on salvia.

    I have a similar one salvia amistad - if you google it you'll see exactly the same flowers, but mauve.
    Bought mine in spring this yr at about 18", now nearly 4' and although it looks a but battered now, still covered in bloom!  A really stunning plant - just hope it survives the winter. I gave it a good 4" mulch a couple of weeks ago.
    Good luck!

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Lupin 1Lupin 1 Posts: 8,916

    Calendula that is lovely, another one on my wish list...image

  • CalendulaCalendula Posts: 69

    Thanks for all your replies - it is beautiful, isn't it? The flowers are a pale mauve - I had the flash on on my phone which makes them look whiter than they are. I think you are all right - a salvia of some sort. The leaves have a darker, almost red underside. They do look like the the amistad one but websites say this is a very new plant - my Dad has had it many years - and that it's hardy which this isn't.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,346

    Perhaps your Dad discovered itimage

    RHS lists the hardiness as follows- 

    Resilience Hardiness

    H3 (half hardy - unheated greenhouse/mild winter)

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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