A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Butterfly and Bird Gardens Trying to identify a plant in my garden

Hello,

I live in Philadelphia, PA, and have a large, yellow-flowered plant in my garden that I'm unable to identify, and I'm hoping you can help.

It has long stalks, almost tentacle-like, like an octopus. It's height is approx. 6 feet in places. Along the plant it has lots of little yellow flowers. It is much loved by the American Goldfinches that feed on it - it looks like there are lots of little seed pods along each stalk.

It doesn't appear to be a thistle or Nyjer - at least not one that I recognize in my searches online.

Can you give me any ideas?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Hi Charlie

Welcome to the ghelper.
I am western Pennsylvania, but cant for the life of me identify that one.
Maybe an unusual weed? had millions of those this year.

dodge

Possibly a weed, but it has grown in the same exact spot for the last 2 years at least.

It looks like a Missouri primrose, Oenothera missouriensis, to me, from both the picture and your description. They are perennials and I consider them pretty invasive weeds. The flowers are pretty but they self sow too readily and take over wide areas.

Thanks, Tina.

I think we have a winner. After a little Google, it's definitely some sort of primrose, maybe an Evening Primrose.

A few years ago a I threw down some random wild flower seed so I reckon that's where it came from. I'm most reluctant to get rid of it entirely simply because it attracts the American Goldfinches - I keep it under control with a little pruning (chopping down) here and there.

Thanks again.

ee gads

My favorite throw me away type.
I love the 6 inch ones. Have that , threw the other out.

sorry

dodge

You do not have to get rid of it. In my climate it is a year round growing season and those get out of hand easily. In your colder weather it may be a little more restrained. The seeds are often included in wildflower mixes. So that may be where you got them. But the birds also share them along with a small fertilizer boost. So you may find them other places like I do. They are not a bad plant except the colonizing properties.

If you like it keep it,
After all a weed is only an unwanted plant.

I know many people who plant what others pull.
Including Thistle and Golden Rod

I do intend keeping it, both for novelty value (we call it the octopus plant)and because the finches love it.

I'm always reluctant to kill anything new that pops up in my garden until I've seen how it looks when it grows, and if it attracts any wildlife.

My wife: It's a weed. It's ugly. Pull it.
Me: Yeah, but it's different. I'm gonna let it grow a bit and see what it looks like.

What color is it .?

Yellow flowers.

Looks like it's a common Evening Primrose.