Is this an 'erb?

[bazzaboy]

Local garden centre had an end-of-season special offer on herbs so I got several including less than usual stuff like Evening Primrose and Stevia Sweetleaf.... But one (in photo) was unmarked and remains a mystery. Tall wiry stems, attractive red interior of flowers... Chap on till insisted it was a herb if in the herb section in a herb pot (fair enough) but couldn't name it. It almost looks like overgrown red cabbage seedlings straining for light (but very wiry stems) but doesn't smell like a brassica or indeed have any smell at all (which is not particularly encouraging for a herb!) Searches on Google have led to the suggestion it might be a misplaced red thalia (pond plant) but seems to be thriving without its feet under water..... Attractive little plant so don't mind buying it cheap but not sure it belongs in the herb patch or quite how to treat it.... Any suggestions?

[roitelet]

Doesn't look like a 'erb to me, don't know what it is.

[veggiechicken]

Looks a bit like one of the chenopodium - magenta spreen, tree spinach, that sort of thing

[Nicos]

Is it a type of Thai basil?

[Moopmoop]

Do I dare suggest that you taste it???

[Moopmoop]

If on the other hand you don't fancy poisoning yourself, my guess is a variety of mint and my advice would be to take it to a garden centre and ask them for ideas.

[bazzaboy]

Do I dare suggest that you taste it???

And bazzaboy was never heard of again......

[bazzaboy]

Midnight fifteen, just been out in the garden with a torch to munch unknown 'erb ("Was a scientific experiment, Officer, the straitjacket will not be necessary....). As well as scentless this is an 'erb that's pretty tasteless as well, obviously only to be used in very sophisticated gourmet cooking.

[veggiechicken]

Its been nice knowing you Bazza................

[Moopmoop]

Let me know that you wake up in the morning

[bazzaboy]

Looks a bit like one of the chenopodium - magenta spreen, tree spinach, that sort of thing

Veggiechicken could be in with a shout here as the "cheopodium magenta" pics look very similar (will attach one below): magenta inner flower, serrated leaf etc. It's full name includes "giganteum", does that mean what I think it means (who needs a £100 banana tree, Monty?)



An allotment pal said with it's magenta inner and red stems it looked like a posh version of the weed "fat hen" which we get a lot of on the allotments. Fat hen I think was used as a spinach in Victorian times so is that related to "tree spinach"? "Spinach" seems to be a very wide category! At least it begins to sound edible if not exactly an extraordinary herb.....

[veggiechicken]

Are you OK Baz? Just checking
Fat hen - same family as Tree Spinach - Chenopodia.
How to recognise the family? From the shape of their leaves!
Cheno - podia means Goose-foot 'cos the leaves are the shape of goose's feet
Could someone with a goose confirm this please ?

[bazzaboy]

Do I dare suggest that you taste it???

Its been nice knowing you Bazza................

Let me know that you wake up in the morning

Are you OK Baz? Just checking

8.30am, aha, seem to still be alive (more or less), no hallucinations over night, no wild dreams, bit disappointing really..... Still alive so guess I've got to garden now, duh!

It's a bit ironic if I've bought a cousin of fat hen disguised as an 'erb as I spend half the day yanking it out of the allotment where it is rife...

[Scarlet]

Looks very much like Mexican tree spinach to me. I grow it every year, though mine is single stemmed, grows to about 6ft and is an annual.
I use the very small magenta leaves to brighten up salads. I grow it every year, will self seed profusely. Does the magenta colour rub of slightly?

[Glutton4...]

I love this thread!

Sadly I no longer have Geese, but can confirm they have orange feet lol. Well, mine did, at least! If you squint, and watch a goose walking, there is a moment during the gait when the lifted foot, could, at a push, resemble the shape of one of those leaves. Maybe. Perhaps more clearly if you have been partaking of substances...

Weird!