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Identify a plant in my garden #870923

Asked May 31, 2024, 11:30 AM EDT

Hello! I’m having a challenge identifying a plant that is growing vigorously by my backyard deck. Unfortunately, I didn’t document what I bought and planted last year as well as I should. I thought this was a type of bellflower I had purchased from a local garden store, but now I’m worried it is a stinging nettle or something really not worthwhile to cultivate. It has little needles along the stems, not very painful ones. 

Ingham County Michigan

Expert Response

That does look a lot like stinging nettle, but I think it might be Campanula trachelium, or Nettle-leaved Bellflower.

 https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=278830&isprofile=0&pt=8#AllImages

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/campanula-trachelium/

The main way to tell the difference between this plant and stinging nettle is to wait and look for the flower. It looks like you should know for sure within a few weeks to a month. 

Thank you for your question! Replied May 31, 2024, 2:55 PM EDT
Thanks so much, Caitlin! I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

Sent from my iPhone

On May 31, 2024, at 2:55 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied May 31, 2024, 3:49 PM EDT

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