Plant ID

[Porseb]

Can anyone tell me what this is? I'm trying to work out if it's a wildflower that came with a packet of seeds or a present from a bird? It seems to have planted itself away from the wildflower patch.

It has needle-like leaves.

Could it be a perennial pea? (Lathyrus) something?

No, it's not a pea, it doesn't have the right flower structure (a bent-over-backwards bottom petal with two petals falling over it, and an upright "standard") It's a toadflax of some sort - snapdragon shaped flower. You could look at Linaria maroccana. It may have come from the wildflower patch - it's not a British wildflower, but a lot of so-called wildflower mixes would be better named "mixed annuals that look as if they might be wild".

Arr. I'm pretty sure this is a wildflower, but not the one I thought it was, IYSWIM. Off to ponder ...

Missed the two previous posts! Definitely not perennial sweet pea (lathyrus vernus). And I agree with Dint about some of the wildflower/meadow mixes - they do take liberties with the definition of "wildflower" although they are undeniably pretty.

I’m pretty sure that is Triphysaria eriantha AKA Butter and Eggs. It’s a kind of Toadflax. It can be a bit invasive- once you have one, you’re likely to get a few- but it’s very pretty!

Looks like Aquilegia

I think it’s Himalayan Balsam, carried by the wind. If it is it’s very invasive spreading by seed and growing in damp places.
It is clogging up rivers and streams and there are moves to eradicate it.
Enjoy the flowers but remove any seed heads and don’t compost.

I'm no expert, but my first thought was toadflax. I like to see various wild flowers pop up in the garden.

There's an ap called LeafSnap that would be able to identify it for you. It's pretty good.

It says it's toad flax. Well done Eddie

Hmm. It looks too delicate for Himalayan Balsam to me and it's very definitely not an aquilegia. In cases of doubt, I usually ask horticultural Twitter, which is usually more reliable than any of the apps, which often produce very weird answers!

Oops. Missed the crucial posts. Yay for toadflax!

Yes, on reflection I now see the little spur at the back of the flower and agree toadflax.
Phew, better than Himalayan Balsam, although I think it is pretty.

Yes, phew it's not Himalayan Balsam although, unless my memory is playing me false (quite likely), I'm sure the Museum of Garden History used to sell seeds of it years ago, presumably before it became such a menace.

Thank-you - yes, I think it's toadflax

Can I jump on this thread to ask if anyone can tell me what this is please? It's on a public footpath and I really like it!

Elderberry?although not Black Lace.

Sambucus nigra - it's part of the elderberry family I think but black leaves, pink flowers instead of the common green leaves, white flowers

Yes Sambucus Nigra, how lovely, they’re expensive to buy.

I wonder if you could wait till the berries ripen and plant a few?

Yes, phew it's not Himalayan Balsam although, unless my memory is playing me false (quite likely), I'm sure the Museum of Garden History used to sell seeds of it years ago, presumably before it became such a menace.

OT but as it's come up ...Himalayan balsam was introduced as a garden flower, and I believe was popular with bee keepers for its late pollen.

It is quite an attractive plant, but it simply does too well in the U.K. with no natural predators, outcompetes native plants and forms a monoculture. I usually do some conservation volunteering on a local nature reserve, much of the summer is consumed by 'balsam bashing'. This year, I'm taking out invaders along some of my riverside walks - there's not much point trying to tackle big areas single handed but if you come across an odd plant or two it's definitely worth taking them out before they seed else next year there will be dozens - and a few years later nothing much else. With volunteering groups out of action at the moment.it's going to be helpful if individuals do what they can, I think .

Sambucus nigra is the common native elderberry. The purple leaved ones are generally varieties of the form Sambucus nigra f porphyrophylla.

Thank you! It's absolutely beautiful, the picture doesn't do it justice.