Planted this perennial in the back garden late last year for cut flower sales. Lost my map of the garden and don't know what it is. Even my sister who writes a gardening column for the local paper doesn't know what it is. It hasn't flowered yet but is 4 1/2 feet tall with huge leaves and buds on top and on long stems coming from every leaf junction. The leaves are fuzzy on the underside. Any help at I.D. ing this monster would be appreciated. Thanks.
it sort of looks to me like it could be Inula, but I'm not sure what species. Inula helenium, is one of the more common ones. But, it has been quite a while since I've seen that plant, so it's a bit of a long shot.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=inula&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
If that is it.... Be preparred, ir's a perennial that truly thinks it should be a tree!
I think you are correct. Since you supplied me with a name, I found the plant at Heronswood.com and the foliage, what the picture shows, sure looks like the plants in my garden. Funny....I don't have any records of buying that perennial last year. Maybe I got a mislabeled packet! Thanks guys, appreciate the help!
have fun with it. I think it's a pretty interesting plant. I bet that it will draw a lot of comments when it is full height and in bloom!
