This rather rare plant is Nicandra physalodes, common name Apple of Peru. It is a tender annual, and like most others it comes to flowering in late summer/early autumn. It spreads quite widely by seed once established in the garden, but isn’t really invasive. It grows very quickly to reach a metre or more in height and sends out arching branches with a string of large purplish blue flowers, followed by lantern shaped seed pods similar to the Physalis or chinese lanterns. Hence the species name.  The seedlings are easily spotted and pulled out in late spring, having serrated leaves covered in minute black spots. Quite a nice thing to have in the herbaceous border as it flowers late when many perennials have finished. If more wanted, pot up seedlings  and place them on bricks between taller plants to start with, planting in the soil as they get tall enough. First frost kills.

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