2 years ago, I ordered a packet of Amaranthus 'Flamingo Feather' from Baker Creek Seeds. None of the seeds grew the flamingo feather. The packet was heavily contaminated with other seeds, including this one. ?Perhaps a wildflower or 'weed' in Missouri (the location of Baker Creek seed company)? I like it, so I have kept it----even though I had to pluck well over a hundred of self sown plants this year in this bed. And the hummingbirds (as seen in the first pic which I took just this morning) also love it! What is this lovely, albeit prolific self sowing, plant?

Thanks

It most looks like something in the Veronica genus to me....?

Whatever it is, I've had it show up in my beds also. I've always blamed it on penstemons, which don't grow well for me for some reason, and this plant is usually what I get in the general neighborhood the next season.

It looks like Linaria, there are pink flowers apart from the purple Linaria purpurea. Check the company you got the seed from to see if they sell it.

Canon J. Went is pink ..

http://www.google.co.uk/search...

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants...

I'm not good at comparing photo's but it looks more like Linaria to me too. Here are links to photo's of both in the database,

Linaria: http://garden.org/plants/searc...

Veronica: http://garden.org/plants/searc...

Thank you, thank you! Definitely Linaria purpurea. (Fun common name of Purple Toadflax). Could be 'Canon J. Went'. Fascinating.

Baker Creek does not sell Linaria seeds.

So.....where did it come from. I recall starting this indoors in either my greenhouse or inside the house in a sterile seed starting mix (I usually use Black Gold brand). I did not direct sow into the bed, so it did not come to the bed locally. I then transplanted into a 3 and 1/2 inch pot, and nursed it along. I considered disposing of it, b/c it was obviously not the amaranth. But I liked the foliage so I kept it.

so the seed came either from......the store bought seed starting mix or from Baker Creek. Perhaps they grow this in their gardens? It's interesting. I plan to keep it. i love it.

THANK YOU AGAIN!!! Awesome.

I have Linaria purpurea, there was a couple of pink plants amongst them but I'm not sure it's grown this year. I was given a free perennial seed mix with an order, not much grew so I tipped the tray of home made compost out on the garden. A couple of years or so later some germinated, now I have them in lots of places and they are loved by bees. The old plant dies back, making new plants on runners but they also set seed around. They don't smother anything and make a nice filler.

Janet: You are so good! It does look a lot like L. purpurea 'Canon J. Went': Purple Toadflax (Linaria purpurea 'Canon J. Went')

It seems to be the popular pink variety about Lin!

And, oh so pretty!

It is pretty, but I have to say I am still trying to get rid of it two years after I thought all plants were killed.
To me, it's got a nasty habit of procreating just about anywhere!
With a small "botanical garden" that I've got, trying to fill in more plants, such heavy seeders are not really desired.

Have no idea what it is, but I love that hummingbird in the first picture. That alone would make it worth keeping for me as long as I could easily pull up what I don't want.

I love the plant! Everything is pretty on it, its fairy flowers and beautiful foliage too, my bees are very fond of it too, I couldn't miss it and late it self-set where it likes. It is a nice weaving plant among others.

This linaria will seed extensively, but cutting the flower heads before they produce too much seed is usually adequate.

I always let a few seedlings grow every year. They are great fillers in the garden.