About John Cash Expertise I can identify most cultivated ornamental plants both tropical plants and landscaping varieties depending on how much information I am given. I can also identify most native wild plants of the US at least to the Family and Genus. For the best chance of identification, I need pictures of leaves, stem, flowers, and fruit or seed. Send your pictures to john@arklatexwatergardens.com. I will answer your questions on AllExperts. Please make sure you size your pictures before you send them. Large pictures are VERY SLOW to download.
Experience I have been in the nursery/garden center business since 1976. I am an exotic plant collector and ornamental plant grower. I have studied plant identification all over the South East United States and in tropical Pacific coast Mexico.
Education/Credentials I have a B.S. Degree in Horticulture, a B.S. Degree in Botany with an emphasis on Taxonomy (plant identification) and a Master's degree in Floriculture (ornamental horticulture).
Expert: John Cash Date: 6/30/2007 Subject: Can you identify my mystery plant?
Question Any way you can identify this flower (I sent 3 shots total to your e-mail address)? In previous years I tore this out of my flowerbed thinking it was a weed but this year I let it go and darned if it didn't flower. I'm in Southeast Michigan if that helps.
Thank you,
Rosie
Answer Rosie,
It looks like one of the many, many varieties of perennial Salvia, but the flower's not quite right. That doesn't mean that it's not a Salvia, just means I've never seen it.
Let me do a little more looking and I'll get back to you. If you can, send me some close ups of the flowers and I'll look at them again when I get back from Mexico in two weeks.
