# Help me identify a flower, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995 "2007-08-26T16:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/1 "2007-08-26T16:28:14Z")
I’ve got a bunch of these that popped up in my garden bed. They’re really lovely, but I know I didn’t plant them! Any ID assistance would be greatly appreciated. [![](https://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/LeahandPhil/?action=view¤t=IMG_2290.jpg) ](https://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/LeahandPhil/?action=view¤t=IMG_2290.jpg) [![](https://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/LeahandPhil/?action=view¤t=IMG_2289.jpg) ](https://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/LeahandPhil/?action=view¤t=IMG_2289.jpg) [![](https://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/LeahandPhil/?action=view¤t=IMG_2288.jpg) ](https://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa246/LeahandPhil/?action=view¤t=IMG_2288.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/2 "2007-08-26T16:47:47Z")
The blossom looks a lot like something in the _hibiscus_ or _althaea_ families (rose of sharon, (marsh)mallow, hollyhock, Althaea, etc.), but the leaves are far too narrow and lobed for anything I’ve seen in those groups. You might kick around Google™ Images using those names as keywords to see if any cousin turns up matching your plant. _Althaea Cannabina_ has lobed leaves, although not exactly like yours. (Don’t be misled by the colors: they all come in a wide variety of whites, pinks, and purples with a lot of variation, even on the same plant.) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/3 "2007-08-26T16:55:56Z")
BTW, I used “families” in a very non-technical (_i.e._ wrong) way in the last post. the Family is _Malvaceae_ of which the hibiscus and althaea each provide a prominent Genus (with some plants being moved back and forth between the two as horticulturists wrangle over where they belong). ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/4 "2007-08-26T17:10:50Z")
A geographic location (“Midwest”, “Northeast”, “Borneo”) would be helpful. 😉 ETA: It’s not a hollyhock, because they’re biennials and the first year put up only a rosette of leaves, then they bloom the second year, on a 5-foot high stalk. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/5 "2007-08-26T18:12:37Z")
[Hibiscus trionum](http://www.missouriplants.com/Others/Hibiscus_trionum_page.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/6 "2007-08-26T20:08:18Z")
Careful, Hibiscus trionum is listed as a noxious weed in some states. It is one you probably don’t want to cultivate, as it self seeds and can get pretty annoying. [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HITR](http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HITR) ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-flower-please/416995/7 "2007-08-27T00:25:53Z")
Thanks for the quick replies! I will be sure to get it all pulled up and thrown away before it goes to see. Too bad is a noxious weed - it’s really pretty!