Thursday, May 21, 2009

Mysterious Perennial

Here are a couple more pictures of the perennial I don't know in the Native Garden in the BBG. See the leaves are tall, about 18"-24" on sappy, straight stems, and the flowers are held right above them. Very sweetly scented.

7 comments:

  1. Ooh...I think you're on the right track, Donna! I remember seeing the name doll's eyes, somewhere on a label. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. At first I thought Fothergilla, before seeing the leaves. I'm on the White or Red Baneberry trail. Acteae.

    http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/galleryw5.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think Fothergilla might be the right track after all..especially when this site calls them "honey-scented bottle brush" flowers which is what seem like its salient features to me --
    http://www.naturallandscapesnursery.com/fothergilla.htm

    ReplyDelete
  4. QC, nope; fothergilla is a shrub. flower is of a similar fluffiness, though.

    I'm convinced by the actea, not sure of the species, though.

    It's OK, you can rest on your papaw/pawpaw laurels :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. From the serrations on the leaf, I'd say Actaea. (Fothergilla has a more rounded leaf. Also, Fothergilla is gloriously coloured in autumn, if you recall seeing it then)
    Mind you, I was uncertain until I scrambled into a cupboard of "cold climate" books!And that rose? Still looking.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looking at the Flatbush Gardener's flickr photostream has laid to rest our problem:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/flatbushgardener/3530247712/in/set-72157618116619030/

    Actaea pachypoda it is.

    I used to live on Flatbush Avenue...the old joke about what your pornstar name would be? Your first pet's name, and your current street. At the time I would have been:

    Muffy Flatbush.

    Ta-raaaa.

    ReplyDelete

Comments on posts older than 48 hours are moderated (for spam control) . Yours will be seen! Unless you are a troll. Serial trollers are banned.