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Weed or what?

by Nicholas
(Portland, ME)

I'm trying to help an elderly lady whose husband use to tend the flower beds and she doesn't know what is what. If this pic is a weed, I need to be able to tell her so she'll let me yank it and plant something else. I believe the bed gets mostly sun, I don't know anything about soil, the plant lives in Portland, ME. I have yet to see a flower on it. There is a tiny bit of another mystery plant with a purple flower on the lower left but for now I just want to know what the thing is in the center of the pic. Thanks very much for any info you can offer.

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Weed or what?

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Maltese Cross
by: Moni

Looked at this photo again and can't believe I did not recognize it the first time. I think it is Maltese Cross "Lychnis chalcedonica". It has a beautiful orange flower, is perennial to at least zone 4, likes full sun, and can take some dry soil conditions.
Don't know when you sent in the photo, but it should have bloomed by now, if you did not pull it out.
Let us know what color the flower is/was!
Zinnia or ...
by: Nori

I thought zinnia at first, too, and then thought of this other plant, which is a weed that I tried leaving in gardens, but learned the folly in that! This plant is called bladder-campion, botanical name Silene cucubalus in the Peterson's Wildflower guide. The root of this bladder campion is thick, white, and rhizomatous (is that a word?), and hard to get all out once it takes over the bed.
Has it flowered yet? You'll know if it's a zinnia as soon as it flowers.
Photo too large
by: Anonymous

Nicholas, I tried to post a picture of my Zinnia but, file too large. If you want, you can e-mail me directly at XXXXX@XXXXXXX.com I'll send you the image so you can have a clear picture of a large Zinnia that has bloomed.

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Zinnia, not a weed
by: Heather

That looks like a a zinnia that has not yet bloomed. I have a picture of one of mine I will try to post so you can have a look. Humminbirds just love 'em!!
Thanks
by: Nicholas

Thanks everyone for offering your ideas!
Sweet William
by: Moni

My first thought was it is Sweet William. It is related to carnations -dianthus.
If it is Sweet William it is a biennial, it comes back every year, but blooms every other year...tho in my experience once you get them started it seems there are some in bloom every year.
It would be great to send a photo when there is a flower, which looks like there maybe sometime soon.
When was the photo taken?
Zinnia?
by: Jo

It looks like it could be a zinnia that has not flowered yet. At least, that is what my zinnias look like before they bloom. They come back from seed if left undisturbed. Also, the thing down in the lower corner appears to be tradescantia.. but hard to tell. If so, it will take over, or it did in my garden and I am still pulling it out.
Maybe toad lily
by: Beth

Toad lily looks a lot like that. Blooms late August to Sept.

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