simisue

By simisue

WHAT IS THIS?

I have never grown this tall & dramatic shade loving perennial herb, that is both glorified & vilified by gardeners; but it is so gorgeous that I get plant lust every time I see it.

Do you know what it is?

Here are some hints:
-It is native to the Mediterranean & has been cultivated for thousands of years.  The beautiful leaf motif on Corinthian columns in ancient Greece are
from this plant. It is more prized for its large leaves, even now.
-Today it is grown in  Western Europe, the US, Australia & New Zealand.
-It is hearty even in Michigan where winters are COLD (ZONE 7 in US).
-It can be invasive.
-Slugs & snails love it.
-The flowers are on 3 ft tall stems & are spires of tall, white or pink 
snapdragon-like flowers, that appear in Spring.
-It can only be pollinated by bumble bees, or other large bees.
-Its charming common name came about because the curved bracts
look somewhat like the claws of a large mammal.  
-If you have ever seen it, you will never forget it!

What plant is this?
 

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