Plant and Tree Identification: SOLVED: SOLVED: Does anyone recognize this

Forum: Plant and Tree Identification Replies: 7, Views: 146

Author Content LindaSC Columbia, SC (Zone 8a) November 8, 2009 10:04 AM Post #7252741 My daughter brought me this stem of 'hairy balls' to see if I knew what it was. A lady at the farmers market had a bucket full of them and did not know the name. Does anyone here recognize? Thanks, Linda Click the image for an enlarged view. themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 8, 2009 11:21 AM Post #7252884 I am not sure, but that resembles a horse chestnut, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aesculus_hippocastanum_fru... altagardener Calgary, AB (Zone 3b) November 8, 2009 12:20 PM Post #7252996 Asclepias physocarpa, a milkweed species. These show up at the better florist shops here. themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 8, 2009 12:24 PM Post #7253009 Linda, here is a link for A physocarpa...learn something new everyday...grin http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASPH2 Bignonia Atenas Costa Rica November 8, 2009 01:40 PM Post #7253233 It is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly Zaragoza Zaragoza Spain (Zone 8b) November 8, 2009 04:15 PM Post #7253611 Correct, it's a Gomphocarpus physocarpus. Ina_33 Durban South Africa November 9, 2009 03:52 PM Post #7256777 These grew in profusion on our farm near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. As children we used to love popping the hairy balls. I recently spied a plant with ripe seedpods, and have intoduced them into my garden in Durban, South Africa, for 'old times' sake' They grow very happily in the wild, along the roadsides. LindaSC Columbia, SC (Zone 8a) November 9, 2009 08:50 PM Post #7257877 Thank you all for the replies and information. I would love to try some in my garden next year.

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