Leslie, I'm not sure what that is, but you should try the Plant ID group on Facebook. These folks are highly skilled at identification. They don't miss.

Steve

There's also a Name That Plant! forum on Houzz/GardenWeb. They're very good too.

Claire

First glance I thought possibly some species of Acanthus, or maybe Mahonia, but the leaves don't look quite like the more common types of either. Steve and Claire both give good advice about where to look. Good luck.

Thanks very much, Steve, Claire, and Bill,

I'll try the Name That Plant! forum. I'm not on Facebook (semi-Luddite) though I may have to give in someday...

I wondered if it could be some kind of fern, or even something in the Solanum family --it looks like it should be poisonous. The leaves resemble Capsella bursa-pastoris, but that seems more like a dandelion-type plant, or Nabalus serpentarius. After looking at more pictures of the two, neither seems a match. --I looked through page after page of Timber's New England Wildflowers, but it's so hard to identify anything with just one small picture. And I'm not even sure it would be called a 'wildflower', or that it is even native to New England. If it came with the Hepatica, it's from Tennessee. I have to dig it out because it's growing on top of a fern and will probably overwhelm it and the Hepatica. But at least I'll be able to see what kind of root it has, and I may put it in a pot to see what it does. --Off to the Name That Plant! forum.

Thanks again! I really appreciate your help,

Leslie

P.S. Bill, I saw your lemon photos. I'm so envious. Still dreaming of a sunroom filled with almost every plant at Logees...

Leslie, it's not a fern for sure. Solanum of some type seems to be a very possible identity. The lemons are large and ripe. I'll pick them before I put the plant outside for the summer. I hope you get your sun room soon!

Hi Bill,

I'm still going to put it in a pot. Maybe it will produce fruit that will confirm it's S. sisymbriifolium. I do think it's in the Solanum family even if it's a different species...

The sunroom may still take a while. But skylights in the den will at least get me more light. They'll come first. I'm overwintering a rather large orange tree in a back room and can't wait to get it outside for the summer. I have a slew of plants overwintering there under artificial light. Now that I'm starting seeds, it's getting pretty crowded in there!

Leslie, seems you need a greenhouse. Save those pennies and in a few decades you can get a small one! Seriously, I know how it is to have too many plants to cart in and out, not to mention looking for space indoors for winter. So, I have whittled mine down to the lemon, three (for now!) bird of paradise, a few orchids and a handful of other tropicals. The lemon, birds of paradise and orchids go out for the summer. I used to have camellias and a gardenia, and some cacti, but I have relegated myself to growing only the ones of those three families that can stay out all winter. I have several camellias and cacti, and one gardenia. The camellias and gardenia have some browned/burnt leaves, but then we did have that one very cold snap where it got down to -9 degrees one night. That was the coldest here in 30 years, so a good test. The hardy camellias, gardenia and cacti are every bit as nice as the tender ones, even more so because they can really grow better than potted plants. Of course, I really don't (can't) carry all those heavy pots anymore anyway, but it's fine. The camellias are starting to bloom now. The cacti bloom in June/July, and the gardenia probably late July/August.

My goodness, Bill, -9 is colder than it got all winter here in central NH. I think our lowest was -5, which is probably the warmest winter we've had in the 35 years since I arrived in NH. I'm glad that a few burnt leaves seems to be the extent of the damage and hope you'll post some of your camellia photos.

Actually, Bill, I have a greenhouse --sort of. It's a long sad story. Smile. It's just a Rion PVC greenhouse that was already damaged and the heavy snow two years ago brought the roof beam down. My husband was in the hospital and I just couldn't deal with it in time. I still grow vegetables in there and start flower seeds, but it's more of a potting shed now. I left the roof panels out to put less stress on the beam which I propped up. It actually makes it easier because rain waters the pots and I don't have to as often in the hot weather. It's unheated so I never used it in the Winter, anyway. First, we'll get the skylights in the den which will make-over wintering that LARGE orange tree easier and then, I hope, a sunroom for my retirement!

What gardenia variety are you growing outside successfully? I tried a few in past years but they never did well. I'd love to find one that would thrive.

Hi nhbabs,

I remember you. You know so much about plant varieties. You've helped me in the past. Your garden must be amazing.

Leslie, the gardenia is called "Frostproof". It is borderline here though, so I doubt it would survive where you are, unless you had a really sheltered microclimate somewhere, or maybe use some substantial winter protection. I have seen some newer types of "hardy" gardenias, so you might want to do a search for "hardy gardenia" and see what you find. I don't think any of them were rated for your zone though. Good luck!