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Plant ID - HELP!

Dan18Dan18 Posts: 5
in Plants

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help identify this plant my friend grew from seed and placed in a pot in my garden. We can't remember what it is! It is an annual, and looks very much like a Clarkia, but as far as I know Clarkias have 4 petals whereas these have 5. The flowers (pink and blue) are about 4.5cm diameter, and held up on long (40cm) thin angular stems with very little leaf. They look amazing though, beautifully delicate. Their real beauty comes from the incredibly tiny and minimal stems, so the flowers look like floating stars. So I need more for next year and so do you! Any help would be hugely appreciated! - Thanks, Dan

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Posts

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,234

    I do need them. You're right. Hopefully someone will know what they are.

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,149

    They are almost flax like but with heart shaped petals.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,790

    I think Ceres is on the right track. Take a look at Linum grandiflorum, I think that may be it but would like a second opinion image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Missy KrissyMissy Krissy Posts: 249

    Gosh, they are beautiful, I definitley need these in my life!! 

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,354

    Try Viscaria oculataimage

  • Dan18Dan18 Posts: 5

    Thanks Buttercupdays!

    I saw that last night and thought the same. I have also found something called Silene coeli-rosa, or Rose of Heaven, but some places actually seem to call the viscaria and Silene as the same plant interchangeably, both of the Caryophyllaceae (carnation) family.

    Can anyone shed any light on this?

  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 967

    Yes, definitely need these dreamy flowers.

    I have a silene, but it's an alpine one, can't remember the name, possibly schafta

    When it flowered I thought the same, that they were like floating stars...

    Not a very good photo due to rain but the flower is not like yours at all..hopefully someone knows what yours are

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    Last edited: 02 August 2016 11:45:54

  • Dan18Dan18 Posts: 5

    Ok people! I'm pretty sure that this is Viscaria Oculata now, as mentioned by Buttercupdays above. My friend mentioned that she bought a packet of mixed seeds from thompson & morgan, so I did a search there and I am 99% sure that this is the mix, as we have blue and pink together, so it makes sense. I'm not a seller or endorser but there is the link below for those interested. You only ever see it displayed as mass-planted online, but as only a couple of the seeds took root on my batch I have seen them develop in my garden in a really scarce and distant manner, which I think makes them look more beautiful, frail and delicate. Also, I think it looks more modern and classy, but I can see these bunched together also for more of a cottage feel. I think they might work well dropped onto patio clematis pots to add some miniature delicate flower action alongside larger clematis blooms.

    Thanks for the help and interest!

    http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-seeds/hardy-annual-seeds/viscaria-occulata-patio-mixed/4262TM

    Last edited: 02 August 2016 12:27:00

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