Sunday, September 19, 2010

HELP!


This little plant is growing in our drive. Its tiny, only about 120mm tall, and looks like one of the pinks. I know its something 'different' because surely I would have noticed such a striking little flower before and this one is new to me. Checking the guides, nearest I can come to is Sweet William Catchfly, a naturalised species in the south of England, but maybe not up here?

I'm hoping someone ( Steve, Nigel, Dean et al) can give me the benefit of their greater experience...   

5 comments:

Phil said...

Looks like it might be a Saponaria species...... could even be S. officinalis (soapwort)although the flowers are usually paler... but there are some garden cultivars..... often cultivated in the past as a natural source of detergent and sometimes found as a garden escape.According to George Swan's Flora of Northumberland it has been found in your neck of the woods but is "very localised and scarce"

Steve Gale said...

It looks good for Sweet William Catchfly to me Stewart.

Phil said...

I think you and Steve are right - too small for soapwort and the petals have a notch........... Swan's flora says it's been recorded from Alnwick and from Glanton...

Stewart said...

Thanks for the points chaps. Phil, I checked Soapwort but it is much too large and the flowers are paler. Thanks for checking Swan too, a great reference.

Steve, cheers.

Anonymous said...

Looks like i was beaten to that one. Nevertheless a cracking garden record all the same.