Can you identify this plant?

by Cheryl Fontaine

+11

Answered

This plant is a volunteer - I don't think it is a weed. So far it is about four feet tall, very slender with large, round leaves. The leaves are as soft as butter.

can you identify this plant, gardening, There seems to be some kind of fruit growing immediately after flower It is in the middle of the picture towards the left and looks like nothing I ve ever seen before

There seems to be some kind of fruit growing immediately after flower. It is in the middle of the picture towards the left. and looks like nothing I've ever seen before.

This is a picture of the flower buds just before opening.

can you identify this plant, gardening, This is a bud opening The flowers are very small and yellow and only last about a day before they turn into something else

This is a bud opening. The flowers are very small and yellow and only last about a day before they turn into something else.

6 answers

Amy on Jul 09, 2014
its a sunflower, and it will spread!

Helpful Reply
- Cheryl Fontaine on Jul 09, 2014
  @Amy Sounds like it is indeed a variety of sunflower - I'll just enjoy its uniqueness. The flowers are not much, but that's okay, the seed pods look like something from science fiction. Thank you.
  
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Cheryl Fontaine on Jul 09, 2014
Thank you so much, but no, it is not a sunflower. I grow tons of sunflowers. This plant has very small flowers and they turn into a strange looking thing that I'm sure is going to end up being some kind of fruit or seed pod. The leaves and stems are soft and fragile, not anything like a sunflower.

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Doris Hare on Jul 09, 2014
However Amy is correct it is a form of sunflower. The flowers are very small yellow orange in color. The first photo is of one of the seed pods. Left to ripen you will have lots of volunteers next summer. We got a start when we used a bird seed mix that it was in.

Helpful Reply
- Cheryl Fontaine on Jul 09, 2014
  @Doris Hare Holy cow! I thought I had grown every variety of sunflower, but this is a new one on me! Have never seen or heard of this variety and have no idea where it came from. Well, the leaves are so very soft and it's an interesting plant to have around. Thank you for straightening me out about this!
  
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Liz H on Jul 09, 2014
jerusalem artichoke possibly

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The Garden Frog with C Renee on Jul 09, 2014
This is a WEED! it is a farm weed commonly found in the field-Butterprint weed.

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- See 5 previous
- Cheryl Fontaine on Jul 09, 2014
  "One mans weed is another mans flower" or something like that. I'm going to let it grow anyway, there's only one and it's interesting. Thank you for giving it a name though, That is a big help.
  
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- The Garden Frog with C Renee on Jul 09, 2014
  @Cheryl Fontaine it will become invasive so I would be very careful. good luck
  
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- Rhonda B on Jul 10, 2014
  @Cheryl Fontaine Before deciding to keep this plant (Abutilon theophrasti aka Velvetleaf) please consider the following information: 1. It is listed as a noxious weed, 2. 1 plant can produce up to 8000 seeds, 3. Seeds can remain dormant for 60 years, 4. The plant contains toxic chemicals that prevent the water uptake and production of chlorophyll in other plants especially crop plants. If you need more information here is a link to the Penn State Extension that has an interesting article on this plant: http://extension.psu.edu/pests/weeds/weed-id/velvetleaf.
  
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- Jennifer G on Jul 10, 2014
  @Rhonda B This link was very informative! WOW - 8000 seeds! I wouldn't let that grow in my garden for sure! It is an interesting looking specimen, but way too invasive for my taste.
  
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- Rhonda B on Jul 10, 2014
  @Jennifer G If you are interested in the species (Abutilon) there are Hybrids available-there are some really interesting varieties and some people use them as houseplants. They are called "Flowering Maples" or "Chinese Bell Flower". Here is a link to some of the different varieties: http://portlandnursery.com/plants/annuals/abutilon.shtml.
  
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- The Garden Frog with C Renee on Jul 10, 2014
  @The Garden Frog with C Renee Butterprint (Abutilon theophrasti)Description: Butterprint, also known as Velvetleaf, Buttonweed, and Indian Mallow, is an annual reproducing by seeds.
  
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Cheryl Newman on Jul 09, 2014
I have heard it called velvet leaf in Illinois: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/velvetleaf.htm

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