"David (Normandy)" writes

"Stewart Robert Hinsley" wrote in message
...
In message , "David (Normandy)"
writes

May have to just leave them growing and see what they become. I like
mystery
plants. Except when it turns out I'm cultivating a monster such as deadly
nightshade! You should see the cute little wildflower I carefully
transplanted from the veg plot to the orchard. It has grown to over six
feet
with several yellow flower spikes and lots of big furry silvery leaves
which
have been largely destroyed by caterpillars - I may post of photo of it
tomorrow for identification.


You probably don't need a photo - that sounds like a mullein. In the UK it
would mostly likely be Verbascum thapsus, but perhaps things are different
in Normandy.
--

I'm impressed! I googled Verbascum thapsus and the photos of "Great Mullein"
look just like the plant!
Does that mean I can't post of photo of it :-( (

Course you can - photos are for sharing successes as well as problems
:-)

It is quite a spectacular plant size wise. I'm six feet and it is now taller
than me. The upper part of the flower spike seems to curl and track the sun
during the day bending towards it. On cloudy days it points straight up.

It seems to be a biennial, tends to die after flowering, but the seeds
will give plants that flower in the second year. So look out this year
for last year's seedlings to give you flowers next year. Mine only grow
to about 4ft.

In the UK, it has it's own special moth, the mullein moth, don't know
about France. Google and see if that's what your caterpillars are.
--
Kay