Plant mystery solved!
SINCE we first featured a mystery plant in the Mercury last month, the calls just haven't stopped.
Experts from Kew Gardens had to resolve that particular puzzler, a Princess Tree or Pawlonia tomentosa, which had reached dizzying heights in the Redwood family's garden in Clifton Drive, Oundle.
The new challenge we set last week has sparked a new flurry of botanical activity and dozens of suggestions of what is growing in Annie Hall's North Street garden in Stamford.
We had a variety of answers, from showy brugmansia with its trumpet-like flowers to Ipomoea tricolor, which has similar-shaped blooms.
But the firm favourite was Nicandra physalodes, also known as Apple of Peru or the Shoo-fly plant for its habit of repelling flies. IT was suggested to us by scores of readers.
A member of the potato plants family, it grows quickly, to 1.2m, and flowers from July until September.
Gardener Tom Glencross of Stamford said he clearly remembered planting a Nicandra physalodes in Mrs Hall's garden five years ago when previous owners were in residence. "It is an invasive plant which can lie dormant for years," he confirmed. "It has very nice colours but it can grow up to 10ft so it needs planty of room."
Mrs Hall said she was "absolutely thrilled" that so many Mercury readers had responded to her quandary. She is now offering six Nicandra physalodes to give away and can be contacted on 01780 767667.
And just when one curiosity is cured, another springs up in a different garden.
Gwyn Griffiths of Willoughby Drive, Empingham, has been unable to identify the 'triffid' which he planted in his back garden as a seedling after the last frost.
The rogue has grown over the top of his hedge, smothered his wife's runner beans, and gone over next door's lleylandii. Gwyn says it is now about 10 foot high and 25 foot wide.
The seedling was a present from his daughter, Sally who planted the seed believing it to be a pumpkin.
Gwyn said: "I was down there one weekend and brought it home. It had about four leaves and I planted it at the end of May."
The unidentified plant obviously took to the air in Empingham – and is thriving in the back garden near the fish pond. Gwyn has lavished it with care – watering it regularly and giving it a liberal amount of fertiliser, but even he is surprised by its growth – not to mention the 18 inch tendrils.
It has white flowers about the size of a dog rose, each with five petals, furry seed pods the size of a broad bean and leaves the size of rhubarb leaves, but a similar shape to marrow leaves.
Gwyn said: "If anybody has a clue what it is, I would be more than pleased to hear from them. It is not an April Fool!"
If you can help Gywn, call the Mercury newsdesk on 01780 762255 or e-mail: smeditor@stamfordmercury.co.uk
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Weather for Stamford
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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