I'm at a loss....

Bought some perennials from a garage sale. This was hidden in the pot. At the time, it was only a cut branch and a bunch of roots. I planted it 3 weeks ago, and it's growing like crazy! Does anyone know what it is?
  33 answers
  • Brenda Wiggins Brenda Wiggins on Jun 25, 2013
    Google pictures of bamboo seedling. It looks very similar. If that's what it is and you want a bamboo plant I'd suggest you place it in a pot. Bamboo is very invasive and tends to take over any area it grows in. Once it gets established it is really hard to get rid on it.
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jun 25, 2013
    Thanks SO much Brenda! I will dig up right away! Whew! Glad I asked!
  • Juls Twombley Juls Twombley on Jun 25, 2013
    Tammi I agree with Brenda make sure you get all the roots!
  • Rosalie M Rosalie M on Jun 26, 2013
    If it's growing like crazy it's probably a weed.
  • Vickie Foss Vickie Foss on Jun 26, 2013
    It looks like a Bamboo I have in a pot. I keep mine in the house in a very sunny area. One of my favorite potted plants!!
  • Judy Judy on Jun 26, 2013
    This is fireweed. Killing it is impossible...must be pulled. Do not let it spread...I have spent weeks pulling massive amounts from my property and it takes over everything.
  • Mikell Paulson Mikell Paulson on Jun 26, 2013
    Looks just like fireweed! Grows freely here where I live! Seeds go all over!
  • Peg Peg on Jun 26, 2013
    It doesn't look like any bamboo that I've seen.
  • Gretchen Gretchen on Jun 27, 2013
    It doesn't look like bamboo to me either, but why don't you dig it up and plant it in a pot - let's see what comes of it?! Then let is all know what it turns out to be!
  • Sandra Kay Ferranti Sandra Kay Ferranti on Jun 27, 2013
    Looks like butterfly Bush to me.
  • Carol L Carol L on Jun 27, 2013
    That's what I was thinking Sandra. I let what looks like that grow and it's a butterfly bush.
  • Holly VanScyoc Holly VanScyoc on Jun 27, 2013
    It looks exactly like something we have had here in Northwestern PA and its a WEED, I hate to say it but it isw. My father in law has bamboo and this is not how bamboo look when it is first starting out so I think you should dig it up and quarantine it in its own area until you know for sure what it is that was if it IS a weed (which I am pretty sure it is) you won't be putting you surrounding plants in danger. GOOD LUCK!
  • Jess Hilton Jess Hilton on Jun 27, 2013
    I am pretty sure this is a plant called ruellia aka Mexican petunia.Worthwile plant that does spread .I have it in my garden in an area where it can do its own thing and it has spread but not excessively and gives me 3 months of continuos blooms mid summer into fall, purple blooms held above 3' stalks of nice foliage.Give it a chance.Late to come up in the spring as it likes heat to really get it going.
  • Jean DeSavage Jean DeSavage on Jun 27, 2013
    It sure looks like my butterfly bush. It grows quite tall before it starts setting the buds, but then it continuously blooms through late summer and into fall. To keep it from getting too large, I cut mine back after the first frost, down to about 6" tall and then it regrows great in the spring. Mine is currently about 4ft tall now.
  • Celina Torres Celina Torres on Jun 27, 2013
    I believe Jess Hilton is correct, this is ruellia and it is very pretty. It blooms every morning, the blooms fall off by mid-day. They always have purple flowers. Here in Florida, they are used extensively surrounding trees, or in large clumps. You can use cuttings to grow more. Great plant.
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jun 28, 2013
    Thank you to everyone SO much! Here's a couple updated photos if anyone has additional advice...I will be digging it up today and putting it on it's own in the yard, but would love any comments. I noticed the bottom leaves have turned yellow. Don't know if this is just a fluke or if it is a characteristic. It's grown from nothing to approx 2 ft in about 3 wks.
  • Deborah R Deborah R on Jun 29, 2013
    My advice is to check with your local extension office when it comes to pulling something you are just not suree of. If it is butterfly bush, it is the host plant for Monarch butterflies and you will be removing athe only food source for that butterfly's larvae. Since the numbers of Monarchs are on the decline nationally, that really would be a shame,,,if it is asclepsia tuberosa, plant more.
  • It does look like a mexican petunia, they flower for a day and then drop the flower, they are concidered invesive, here at least one of the state parks pull them up and get rid of them, I personally like them and have been planting them in thier own beds.
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jun 29, 2013
    Ok, I'm pretty sure it's a butterfly bush. I dug it up yesterday because there just wasn't room in my rock garden for it and it actually gave me a great reason to start a new garden in my yard! Now I have something to focus on and plant around! Thank you again for all your support and advice! I wouldn't have figured it out without you! I love this website and all the helpful and lovely people on it!
  • Jess Hilton Jess Hilton on Jun 30, 2013
    The leaves are really too narrow for a butterfly bush.I am still convinced it is a ruellia.Please keep us posted when it blooms.
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jul 01, 2013
    Thanks Jess! I will post as it matures. I'm really curious now! Does Ruellia grow in Zone 3 though?
  • Sharon Sharon on Jul 01, 2013
    looks like my mexican petunia,too... potting til you know probably best choice,and don't let bloom/seeds fall or blow away...can decide if you like/want it then
  • Caley's Culinaries Caley's Culinaries on Jul 01, 2013
    I would put money on Mexican petunia aka - ruella. Can't see it perfectly, but we sold hundreds every year in my garden center and that's what it looks like from here. Great plant! Everybody who worked there bought it too!
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jul 01, 2013
    Do Mexican Petunias grow in zone3?
  • Sharon Sharon on Jul 02, 2013
    I would think so... might not get as tall as down south?
  • Jess Hilton Jess Hilton on Jul 02, 2013
    Ruellias are not winter hardy in z3 however the seeds could still germinate and therefore it can still survive.
  • Caley's Culinaries Caley's Culinaries on Jul 02, 2013
    They aren't really hardy in 7b.but the seeds germinate like champs. One of our wholesale customers asked us to grow more, broke the seeds off one of theirs and told me it was, "Like growing gold" when she handed them to me.
  • Mikell Paulson Mikell Paulson on Jul 03, 2013
    Mexican Petunia is what we call fire weed! 3 foot tall and purple flowers! Spread like fire!! Hence it is called Fire weed. Pull it before you can't get rid of it!
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jul 04, 2013
    Mikell, you rock! That's exactly what it is! I'm going to dig up (again) and plant in the field next to our house.....it can invade the whole thing with purple flowers....I wouldn't mind that! Thanks to everyone and Happy 4th!
  • Judy Judy on Jul 05, 2013
    I have been pulling fireweed from my property for 3 months now. Each one that flowers drops 30,000 seeds and will quickly take over your entire yard.
  • Tammi Hofmeister Tammi Hofmeister on Jul 05, 2013
    Thanks Judy! Sounds like I may be better off just destroying the pesky thing!
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Dec 31, 2013
    Fire weed spreads by roots too. I even tried a weed burner but still can't get rid of them. They have invaded my flower bed and front yard. I pull what I can and mow any that get in the lawn to keep them from going to seed.
  • Pam Neumann Pam Neumann on Aug 13, 2015
    Mexican Fire weed ?? and other way to get rid of it?? i would also like someone to tell me why..Comfrey the borage family can contimue to grow and grow under around fences and choke out my geraniums...???? The flowers on the strachs are pretty blue in spring and the green leaves (have bristles that irritate skin) also called Ass Ears ...i have mowed and dug and if i ever get it under control i will only put in containers if i save any in the future......heard it makes a great tea for your other plants so distressed right now...