Hey,Choc! I have a couple large perennials books,but this one stumps me! I think I have seen it before myself somewhere. This one,in one of my perennial books looks like Rodgersia,as far as leaf structure goes,but the pic doesn't show any flowers. As well as it grew for you,I'd try to save it as it is a nice looking plant! Phil

Choc, post it on the Name That Plant forum and you'll have an answer in 5 minutes. They are GOOD over there!

I think it is Nicandra physalodes.

Ponder, I just looked that one up and it really does look like it. I've included a link with a pic.
Choc, that is a beautiful plant. Looks like Ponder 'hit the nail on the head'. LOL!

Kat

Here is a link that might be useful: Nicandra physalodes

Yes katusha, Ponder hit the nail right on the head. I did finally find out what it was using the old fashion method called books. And 50 lashes with a wet noodle to me for not resorting to the method that did me so well long before the computer age, I'm becoming too much of a techno junkie for my own good. I have a vast library of books and that should have been my first reference. It took me all of 10 seconds looking through my Taylors book of annuals to find it. And worse thing is, I'm very vocal on the joys of the written word and here I don't even use my vast library, hanging my head in shame.

I was just coming on to post that I found it when I found both your post.

Where this plant came from, I have no idea, I know I never planted it, guess a friendly bird figured I needed it. Considering it is growing as well as it can in conditions it should not like, I'm considering it a gift, I just hope I am able to harvest some seeds, sure would like to see it in good growing conditions. If it does not seed in time for me, we are having an early fall, I think I'll look for seeds come spring, I've kind grown to like this thing. Maybe I'll dig the poor thing up and pot it to be brought inside, I have a whole reverted 3 car garage that is a mixture of bar and plant overwintering room, if nothing else, to give it time to reseed.

And yes, I did read that it is toxic, but fortunally or unfortunally, for the first time in years, I am able to grow toxic plants. I was unable to have children, but I have had all the neighbor kids grow up in my gardens, I was always the crazy neighbor lady with all the fun stuff, use to come home to a mass of kids playing on all the stuff I put up for me to play with, would even find them in the house, never knew where I was going to find a kid, lol. But right now, 'my' kids are all old enough to know not eat anything that I do not give the ok for so I think I can grow it for the time being.

Choc, books are good too, I have a lot of them myself, but sometimes paging thru them doesn't help. I was going thru some of mine last nite looking for your plant, but didn't find it. Then I saw Ponder's answer and looked that up. I am a reader. I have a library in my bathroom! LOL! I can't just sit and eat unless we go out to eat...I have to read something, anything, at home. That's why I love the web. I am reading and searching for many different things. I could never have all the books at home to look all these things up. So don't hang your head, you're reading the 'written' word on the web too.
As for your plant, I hope you get seeds from it. You're lucky to have the garage to hold things over. My hubby 'owns' ours. That's his workshop. We had snow the other nite and I lost some annuals, but I am surprised on how many are still doing ok, even after a few nites of temps in the upper 30's.
Good luck to you and I hope you'll be able to have several of these plants next summer.

Kat

I have seeds of your subject plant, Nicandra, to share. The unusual papery lantern-shaped pods looked good in a clear vase for Halloween. Now I need to get rid of them. Anyone want some? This plant is an annual that comes back from seed on its own like crazy each year in full sun to part sun. It is one of the easiest from seed ever. I still cannot figure out what to plant it with, and plan to make a post asking exactly that in the Companion Plants forum, if you'd care to take as look as replies arrive. Merry Christmas everyone! Here's my trade list, in case you did not get enough xmas gifts.

Here is a link that might be useful: my trade list