I took a leaf of this plant to our garden club last fall to find out what it was and most people thought it was a weed or an herb. If you look at the attached pictures this is going to be a plant with beautiful flowers as you can tell by the large buds. I have never seen anything like this. Does anybody know what this is?
I would only too glad to give the plant to UBC for research, etc but how would I get there? If you can figure out a way to get it to you to make this possible. I would love to see the flowers when they come out as the buds are huge. I will take some pictures. Marie
Hi Marie, That's just my signature on the forums -- I wasn't asking you in particular to give. Happy to be of help re: the plant -- though, I am not entirely certain. I think it would be best if others could confirm, or perhaps we'll need to see flowers.
I believe that's Centaurea macrocephala. I have that. The flowers are amazing, but it never seems to make a lot of them. Otherwise kind of a course looking plant.
Thanks. My mystery plant is solved. It is a very large plant with five large buds. I have no idea where it came from.
I am going to have to move this plant as it has grown so big. Do I do this in the fall or the spring? What is the rule of thumb for transplanting? Thanks Marie
Thank you! I can hardly wait until the flower totally comes out. I must say my plant is large about four feet high so I might have to move it but I am not sure when to do that.
The one head in the last picture is more or less fully open. But you probably shouldn't get used to having it around, because This species is very difficult to control once established and is a threat to our natural areas, including subalpine meadows http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/detail.asp?weed=29
Yikes, despite liking the looks of it I will get rid of it after what you told me about this plant. I hope other people that have it do the same thing. Thanks for letting me know. Marie
