These are the flower buds before they open. The plant blossoms each year a couple/few weeks before frost hits our area. Last year it seemed to be on the late side and barely had time to show its flowers before frost zapped it on September 30th. This year it's been in blossom already for a couple of weeks.
The blossom has a 5-petaled flower.
There is a cluster of "snowball" type blossoms on the end of each stalk. There is no fragrance to the flowers.
The leaf is about 4" long from tip to tip.The plant stands about 4' tall and has several stalks covered with leaves. In the fall the whole plant turns brown and dies down so I've always cut it back. First thing in the spring it sends up healthy green shoots and grows fairly rapidly all summer to its full height and then gives us these last-of-the-season pure white blossoms.
Anybody know the name of this plant?
8 comments:
well "snowball" cluster would of course make me think hydrangea but you know what those are and the leaves arent' right - how about a Nicotiana aka Flowering Tobacco plant? It almost looks as if the flowers are a bit trumpet shaped which would fit. It would have a very strong fragrance, be sticky, and be a very short lived perennial where you are. They are really pretty!
You've got yourself some flox, my dear. Google flox and search images to confirm, but I'm pretty sure that's it. We have some in white and dark pink. They're lovely:-).
Yep, phlox! Comes in purple too!
If it's *not* phlox, I'd say maybe some kind of evening primrose . . . maybe?! It resembles the wild (yellow) evening primrose that grows up here. But, as I said, that's just a guess. xo
Erin, ThyHand and kelly - Well, it sure is a phlox! I Googled white phlox and came up with a picture that looked just like mine.
Erin, I thought they probably weren't a Nicotiana because although the flower is certainly similar, mine have no fragrance and aren't sticky.
Thanks for the input, ladies. Now if I can just file that away in the crowded file drawer of my brain, I'll perhaps remember it!
And I'll bet the reason mine flower so late in the season is 'cause they like full sunlight and mine is in a spot that gets perhaps only 5 hours a day. :o(
Chicken Mama - It DOES resemble our wild yellow evening primrose, doesn't it?! The leaves are a little different but sure looks like they must be related somewhere back along the line.
Phlox, probably the variety called "David". We grow it too, a very nice plant.
Anonymous - Thanks for your input also. I think I've got it nailed down now!
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