ASK DIARMUID

QCould you tell us what this is, please? We didn’t plant it, so I presume birds have dropped the seed. The lilac-coloured flower only lasted a day, but the leaves are really huge!

We have pored through our gardening books but cannot find it. The flower looks like a morning glory.

Sandra Rust

AThis is Nicandra physalodes, the shoo-fly plant, also sometimes known as apple of Peru. Its seed is occasionally used in bird feed so it can pop up as a weed in gardens, especially near bird feeding tables. That said, people do grow it intentionally as well for its pretty violet flowers and the lantern seed pods are also attractive.

If you don’t like it, just dig it up. It’s not invasive or anything to be concerned about.