I’ve been waiting to see if this mysterious plant is a flower or a weed. I fear a weed I should pull from my yard soon before it seeds. It is now 30-36″ tall. I do not remember planting it; we are on the edge of a large wooded area. This is growing in full sun. Sprouted up in large deer resistant flower garden (800+ sq. ft.). Soil has a lot of clay in it although amended. There is a small percentage chance I planted something and forgot, but it’s starting to look a lot like a weed. Thank you.
Hi Rhonda,
your plant is one of the snakeroots, Sanicula canadensis or Sanicula smallii; if the fruit has a short stalk and if the roots are not thickened, it is probably S. canadensis, if the fruits are not stalked [sessile] and the roots are thickened or tuberous it is more likely Sanicula smallii. This is a rather common native herb related to parsley. The species can sometimes be difficult to identify. It can be weedy.
Sincerely,
Steve Hill, Botanist, SCNPS