Name That Plant!Perennials New England Gardening

interesting pointy mystery

6 years ago

Found thisnodd, kind of pointy plant. The flower part looks vaguely like the one that would appear on these bulbs I bought 2 years ago but never came up. Not even stems or leaves, nothing.

The leaves are weird though, they're a little sharp and rough feeling. At first when it started I thought maybe day lily but it's certainly not that.

What is this thing? There are one of two small ones scattered elsewhere but this is the biggest.

Featured Answer

Embothrium

6 years ago

I soon pulled that suggestion because there are details of the inflorescence visible in your picture that may not be right. But the leaves certainly look like it - after the flowers open it should be possible to tell.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

Kali C
Original Author
6 years ago
thank you! I just googled Kniphofia and the images that came up look just like the plant bulbs I got 2 years ago. Maybe it's possible they didn't come up at all last spring/summer? Also it is like 15' away from where I originally planted them lol
Related Professionals
Edison Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ottawa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bemidji Landscape Contractors · Austin Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Indianapolis Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hilton Head Island Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Taunton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Muskegon Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Williamsburg Landscape Contractors · Colorado Springs Landscape Contractors · Florence Landscape Contractors · Syracuse Landscape Contractors · Lancaster Tile and Stone Contractors · Las Cruces Tile and Stone Contractors · Vancouver Tile and Stone Contractors
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Can you give us your geographical location?
schoolhouse_gwagain
6 years ago
Red Hot Poker? I don't know the scientific name.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
Maybe it's possible they didn't come up at all last spring/summer? Also it is like 15' away from where I originally planted them lol

===>>> plants dont skip a year ... so i dont believe that theory is feasible ....

and the 15 feet sounds like a squirrel rearranging your garden ... cant think of any other possibility .. unless you moved some soil ...but i suspect you would remember that ... this is how i moved crocus/scilla/spring ephemerals ... all over the garden beds ... lol .. but that isnt something i complain about ... its glorious imo ... i know i took pix.. but i must not have properly labeled them ....

ken
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Red Hot Poker is Kniphofia as previously suggested.
schoolhouse_gwagain
6 years ago
Oh. LOL.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years ago
Floral, she is in central MA zone 6a, but this only shows if you access via gardenweb vs. Houzz.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
OK. Thanks. Do Kniphofias survive there?
Kali C
Original Author
6 years ago
so here's an updated photo,.it has rained non stop for the past few days (thank goodness bc it had been weeks) and it has resulted in this orange flower :)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
LOL!! Apparently kniphofias DO survive in that climate!!
Kali C
Original Author
6 years ago
LOL questions answered! It's so weird because it never came up last year, also I bought a big bag of them so I wonder if this is the only one that lived.....also that is NOT where I planted it LOL, I planted it on the other side of the garden. Who knows maybe I dug up and moved another plant and the bulb was stuck in the rootball or something. I still don't understand why it didn't come up last year at all.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Despite appearances, Kniphofias don't actually have bulbs. They have fleshy roots. Your plant must have grown from one of the ones you bought that just got moved somehow.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years ago
I can grow some of the types of Kniphofias here, though some are too tender. So Kali definitely can!