Melianthus sp.?

Sanguisorba sp?

A Sanguisorba is possible.

By George, I think @nonmember_gw & @Christopher CNC have got it! Searched all 3 names & the Sanguisorba leaves look to be the closest match. Seems the common name is Burnets but I also saw it called ”Lilac Squirrel” which has much more cachet & is easier to remember. It’s also deer resistant, a very important feature anywhere on the Olympic Peninsula! Thank you all vey much for your super fast replies and for making me look like a resourceful friend!

Here’s what I found & went to several links from this page

Sanguisorba

I am a fan of Sanguisorba. I have 6 varieties and none have fuzzy stems. If there is one I want it lol!

@peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada Well, that’s not good! 😁 I’ve asked for more info on current size, any flower buds on it now & definitely pics of blooms. If it is the same plant & lives where you do, it must be hardy!

Compare to Sanguisorba hakusanensis or Korean burnet. It is a large, almost shrubby herbaceous perennial. 'Lilac Squirrel' is just a cultivar name associated with this species while burnet is the common name for any sanguisorba.

Does this closer look at leaves help definitive ID? My friend confirmed every stalk is fuzzy.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) That long mouthful of name is what I read & Lilac Squirrel was accompanied by a pic with puple flowers. i noted it can have different colors. To clarify, are you confirming that this is Sang etc. & cultivar unknown until it flowers? I know you’re closer to the Oly peninsula than I am as well as a plant expert.

@User Well then, so it seems my mystery goes on until the plant blooms! I’ll make sure I get that & will post. Thanks to each of you!

Some species of sanguisorba DO have fuzzy stems. And sometimes fuzzy leaves as well. That would not be a factor I would use to eliminate that genus from contention. And the leaves are unmistakably that of sanguisorba. It is a matter of waiting for flowers to confirm a species.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) You saw @peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada post? She wants one as this might be very different than hers!😊

@User I think the flowers will settle this question.. They should soon appear, this being mid summer and another heat wave coming here to warm us up! I love that we’re all so passionate about our plants and find kindred spirits on this site with whom to to share conversations! Stay tuned for flower pics!

@User I'm still waiting to hear which Agrimonia looks even remotely like the pictured plant.

"Fruitition"? 🧐

How bizarre.

If I had faster internet, I might go looking for a fuzzy stalked Sanguisorba. Try that Jordan.

I planted my first Sanquisorba officinalis 'Crimson Queen' last fall. They came up nicely and bloomed well enough for the first year. They did not hold the red flower color for as long as I was expecting. Time will tell how they like the mountain top meadow.

By the way, a Sanguisorba is a very likely plant one would buy at an MG plant sale in the PNW I would imagine.

Many thanks @Christopher CNC for bringing the discussion back on track to my little question! 😉

I think Floral is onto something there! Definitely seems to match better than any Sanguisorba.

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK What I think is that you might be right! The description I found & read even speaks to fuzzy leaves…. P Lineata is different than the P Gracilis I have. Both P. Lineata & Sanguisorba are herbaceous perennials & in the Rosacea family. Interesting to note that the Potentilla Cinquefoil is considered an invasive. Here is what I found for your suggestion of Potentilla Lineata Interesting too is that the link is to Far Reaches Farm located in Port Townsend, WA - exactly where my friend with this plant lives on the Olympic Peninsula! Thanks so much floral for chiming in from across the pond. I will be back when that plant flowers!

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK @inthe_weeds @Christopher CNC @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Finally received promised pic of bloom so posting better late than never! My friend said the plant seemed reluctant to bloom & existing flowers were withering. My answer to that is give it a chance to estabIish - next year. Seems certain floral’s ID was right

That's no Sanquisorba.

So you agree Christopher that Lineata is more likely?

Potentilla lineata is much more likely to be correct.