Mysterious flowers appeared, i/d please?

Day Lewin

On a large spoil heap of earth, (dug out from two sites in different corners of the garden) a number of tall plants have appeared:
They have purple trumpet-like flowers with yellow middles, are about 18" tall, have deeply lobed leaves and a thick rhizome-like stem. In general habit something like an Umbellifer, but not that kind of flower.
Suggestions?

looksee

I think its a hardy geranium - check out G. pratense ‘Plenum Violaceum’ on this page http://www.perryhillnurseries.co.uk/catalogue/perennials/geranium/

Day Lewin

Thank you - the leaves look about right too.

I feel however that the plant doesn't feel like a member of Geranaceae to me - it's so upright and robust!

Any other suggestions?

monkeynuz

Is that it's foliage? Cause that don't look like Geranium although I am open to being wrong, used to it lol

TAZ32

katemarch wrote: »

On a large spoil heap of earth, (dug out from two sites in different corners of the garden) a number of tall plants have appeared:
They have purple trumpet-like flowers with yellow middles, are about 18" tall, have deeply lobed leaves and a thick rhizome-like stem. In general habit something like an Umbellifer, but not that kind of flower.
Suggestions?

Hi Katemarch

That plant you have linked to is Solanum laciniatum, will happily self seed , if left to grow in a sheltered spot, seed pods form orange balls in spring. Its related to the potato, tomato and aubergine, a nice finely cut leaved plant.

Day Lewin

Hello Taz, and thank you: I have checked and that is definitely it! Also known as the Kangaroo Apple, apparently.

:-)

No IDEA how it got into my garden - but it seems like an omen for personal reasons. Do you know if I can transplant it? Must we re-seed it annually?

Probably poisonous, I'd guess, like many Solanaceae: but Wiki-commons tells me that it has been studied for compounds that may have contraceptive uses!!

Delighted with the response - thanks all

TAZ32

katemarch wrote: »

Hello Taz, and thank you: I have checked and that is definitely it! Also known as the Kangaroo Apple, apparently.

:-)

No IDEA how it got into my garden - but it seems like an omen for personal reasons. Do you know if I can transplant it? Must we re-seed it annually?

Probably poisonous, I'd guess, like many Solanaceae: but Wiki-commons tells me that it has been studied for compounds that may have contraceptive uses!!

Delighted with the response - thanks all

hi kate

that plant you have looks reasonably small, they are relatively quick growing. it should'nt be a problem to transplant, just have the new hole dug in advance and keep it watered for a week or two. i can see its flowering and its not the best time to do it but if needs be.
there is plenty of poisonous plants in everybody's gardens, the chances of anything happening are so slim.

redser7

You could try taking cuttings during the summer while waiting for it to seed.