Can anyone tell me what these plants are?

[MakingJudySmile]

I may have planted them myself (except two seem to be vying for space)

I did have comfry - maybe one of them is!!

They could of course be rouge invaders. I am totally somewhat a haphazard gardener.

[Unremarkable]

First one may be Sweet Cicely, second one is probably the comfrey and the last is a sow thistle I think. But I'm not brilliant at plant identification. I'm sure someone will come in from their allotment soon to give you better advice.

[shovetheholly]

For what it's worth (I'm no great shakes at this) I think unremarkable is right!

Sweet cicely will have leaves that smell quite sweet and aniseedy when crushed. They also sometimes have small pale splotches on the base of leaves. Check for both of these things and be certain before you use it as a herb, because there are some scary things in the carrot family that you do not want to be eating! However, when you are certain you have a positive ID on it, it's great with rhubarb - a really lovely, herby no-calorie sweetener.

(I've just been going through all this with a couple of plants in my own garden!! I wasn't sure for a while when they came through, but am now certain).

[AliceInHinterland]

Second one with big leaves is comfrey - can be quite invasive but bees love it and it makes great fertiliser/compost. Third one looks weed-ish to me.

[ppeatfruit]

The third one is Bergenia or elephants' ears I think, does it have little pinkish\whitish flowers and spread about a lot? The red stems make it look a bit like sorrel though.

[MakingJudySmile]

Ooh Sweet Cicely. I did plant a herb starting with a C. I think!!

I've Bergina elsewhere in the garden - could it have planted itself from there. Not triffid style obviously

I this patch I keep as herbs - I've a terrible memory and rubbish for recalling names. Tend to look out for non regular herbs so my purchasing tends to be quite ad hoc (and misremembered!).

I think the comfry I was given was the non invasive one - slight recollection of that conversation.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes me too MakingJudy Even if it is invasive you can pick it because comfrey makes amazing plant food, it smells disgusting though!

I love mine it's the only plant I've got that actually enjoys the dry shade of pines

[JessieMcJessie]

I had a similar thread recently where some very kind gardening Mumsnetters helped me identify lots of plants in the garden of the house I have just moved to.

One recommended an app called Plantsnapp where you take a pic and submit to experts via the app who respond within a day and give you information about how to care for the plant as well. It's amazing - you get 3 identifications free to test it out then it's about a fiver a month for unlimited advice.

[MakingJudySmile]

That sounds like an amazing app - I'm not in the uk though but will see if it works where I am

[JessieMcJessie]

I know they cover the US as well and I think also Australia; there is also a related one called Garden Compass that might help.

[MakingJudySmile]

Oh just noticed the sorrel comment - I don't think I've planted that - I wanted some but I haven't found it.

[ppeatfruit]

I'm a bit paranoid about security with that type of App though. It does sound tempting Hi Jessie

[JessieMcJessie]

hello ppeat. I wonder if Lynda or Bert would like it?

What do you mean about security? Do you worry that hackers could gain access to your phone via the app? I think they just post answers in the cloud and both you and they have access to the info. It's UK based as far as payment is concerned, no dodgy sending money internationally.

[shovetheholly]

Bergenia has big round leaves - hence the popular name elephants ears. That third plant most definitely doesn't! It looks sow thistley to me. I get a lot of the stuff as a weed in my allotment, but I've never identified it before, so thanks unremarkable!

For labels - you can buy big packs of coloured ones on ebay for about £20!

[ppeatfruit]

Oh Jessie tbh I'm a Luddite at heart I have an eye pad not phone, so no, more that any hacker would be able to locate our garden. Like Google Earth or street view, they worry me if I care to think about them .