Can any one tell me what this Mystery Plant is please..........?

[SixtiesChildOfWildBlueSkies]

Just that really. I bought some potted Allium bulbs last year, and after I'd planted them in the garden this plant began to grow out of the remaining soil in the pot.
It seems to need plenty of water, never gave any flowers last year, and died right back over winter, but is now growing again quite steadily.

I cannot remember where I got the Alliums from, so I wondered if you wonderful gardening mumsnetteers could help?

At first I thought might be geum (also called avens) but not really sure. Googled 'geum leaves', and there are various sorts, but still not very confident!

Definitely not geum of any variety.

I don't have the answer though. But I'd lay money on you getting a positive identification on here soon.

Dh says valerian

Thanks Ferguson & JeNeSuis I thought it might be a bit too big for Geum, but it would have been nice to have some to start off in the garden - just moved here last year, and it's been neglected for the past decade or so, so a lot of work still to do.

This plant at the moment is around 14 inches in height, and shows no sign of any budding flowers, it just keeps on sending out new leaf stems from the centre.

Sophie on your DH's comment I've googled Valerian, and the leaf pattern is identical. Maybe it hasn't flowered yet as it's in a very small pot, so I think I'm going to pop it down to the bottom of the garden, plant it, and see what happens. apparently it grows to a height of around 5ft!

Many thanks for your help everyone.

Valerian is a bit of a crowd puller with regard to cats apparently... not as intoxicating as catnip, but still enticing. Just saying mind.

TheNoodles - I've read up a bit more on Valerian, and as well as what you say re enticing cats, it apparently has very stinky roots (enough to make one heave it seems)

Just tell yourself it's a weed. Not the end of the world. Most people's gardens are too small to have a plant that doesn't pull its weight in terms of earning its space... I'd definitely put it in the bin not compost

It doesn't look anything like the Valerian I have in my garden 🤔, I'd keep it and see if it flowers!

nothing like the valerian my mum gave me.

Is it a meleanthus? Although that's evergreen, hmm. You're settled on valerian?

Best ever photos for a Plant ID! Can't decide what it is though - looks like cat's or common valerian (as opposed to wall valerian, Centranthus) but the leaves also look a bit like sanguisorba. Whatever it is, it's very healthy - keep it and let us know when it flowers. Or donate it to the nearest cats' home!

I'd home it, we have 3 cats who love our catnip! I even have to keep a upsidedown hanging basket on it so they don't destroy it...

It's not valerian either

I think I'd be inclined to leave it 'lush and lovely' in a pot on the patio and see whether it develops into something you want to give permanent space to. Maybe put into a larger pot now (and take a sniff of the roots)?

Valerian really stinks, and not just the roots.

Hello JeNeSuis , what do you think it might be then? I must admit I'm a bit confused now.

I think I might do what Errol suggests, pot it up to a bigger pot, place it as far away from the house as possible - after Footle's suggestion - , and see what happens over the summer. If it doesn't flower yet again, then it will definitely have to go.

If anyones cats go missing - call me

If it is valerian , you might like to know it's a strong tranquilliser for humans. It was used medicinally during the Blitz, and was synthetically copied to become Valium.

That's interesting Footle. I did read that it was used for insommnia, but wasn't aware it was as strong as that.

Maybe I could use it on my neighbour who insists on serenading me BADLY every time I step out of my door

was synthetically copied to become Valium

That's not strictly correct - valium was developed as an analogue of librium, which was synthesised for a different project and nearly chucked out but was tested and unexpectedly found to have sedative etc properties. The active compound(s) of valerian haven't been unambiguously identified, as far as I can see, and certainly wouldn't have been known when the benzodiazepines were developed. It is of course possible that there's something in valerian which acts in a similar way on the GABA receptors.

(The structure of benzodiazepines used to be my specialist subject.)

It's clearly not my special subject! But I was told that Valium got its name because of its connection with the plant. Sorry if I have perpetuated a myth.

No idea what it is, but I would be very weary of any plant appearing spontaniouly in a pot. There are high chances it is an invasive plant.

Ok, the valerian I have in my garden come in white pink and red and self seeds madly all over the place, but is easy to pull out. It have very different leaves, they are thicker and come off the stem in pairs. It is also bigger all over, the leaves are not so delicate.
This seems to be a common garden plant.

BUT googling it there seem to be 2 types, and the other one does have the same leaves as yours and then white flowers. I think is it valerian officionalis.

So google that one and see if it is any good!