It looks like it could be a Physocarpus .... google that name and see the hundreds of pictures that come up !

Doesn't look like Physocarpus to me, Louise, too ferny looking - not sure what it is, what do those flower spikes do eventually, April?

I eventually saw the flower spikes and wondered.
Can't quite make it out .....

It reminds me of Astilbe...

Thingy Ravenswing?

What, Owdboggy? Oh hold on, Anthriscus, black cow parsley? Yea, that's it, isn't it?

I thought astilbe too !
I'm going to look Thingy Ravenswing up now ;-)

Mmmm, very nice indeed.
Tall isn't it, eventual height 3' the info says, i like it very much and will remember it for ideas in the future.

April violets, you've a nice plant there :-)

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. It is very pretty Louise, I think it will spread quite a bit and grow fairly tall, its a beautiful eye catching addition in the garden. As for the flowery spikes Bamboo, Im not sure yet, its a new plant which has only been grown for a short time, I have to wait till the flower opens, if it is a flower, Im sure it will be, hope so :) Im going to google all those names you have all offered and see if I can find it, I like a challenge lol Happy weekend to you all !!!

I have posted a couple of pix of it again to see if it helps ... Thanks a lot !!

Ok ... Ive looked at google and the plant again BUT my plant doesnt have glossy leaves and the stems are the same colour as the rest of the plant, unlike the Ravenswing which are reddish, I have the Ravenswing already, which is quite small in comparison, its on the right hand side of the ' mystery ' plant !!!

Certainly looks like Ravenswing to me. Could not remember the proper name before, blame extreme exhasution, not used to this gardening lark.

Gorgeous - one to add to the wish list, when we're sure what it is. The flower spike looks wrong for cow parsley which is an umbellifer.

I've been googling - there is an almost black astilbe -
From http://www.shared-visions.com/explore/gardens/Astilbe/astilbe.htm

"Astilbe 'Sprite'

Height: 25cm. (10") foliage, 45cm.(18") flowers. Late, soft pink open drooping panicles. Perennial Plant of the Year for 1994. A very adaptable Astilbe, quite drought and sun tolerant. It also is an excellent size for the shrinking modern garden. The foliage is a deep almost black glossy green, in the spring the foliage has a bronze tint to it. Dense fine textured foliage and stiff wiry stems. A Bressingham Gardens introduction. AGM "

surely ravens wing has the typical umbelifera flower. this looks more of a astilbe to me too.

Owdboggy ... It does look like Ravenswing but all the pics Ive looked at seem like they are glossy leaves ? mine is not glossy at all :( I really appreciate all the help here ... it pays to keep the label with plants when you buy them !!!! The plot thickens :) Beattie ... you have been working hard to find the name of this elusive plant lol I talk to my plants ... on this occasion I wish they could talk back and tell me its name :)

Far too dark for Astilbe Sprite and much too tall. We have Sprite and it is only 18 inches at the most.

So how about Cimicifuga racemosa var. atropurpurea?

Yep, I agree, the pics show that the description exaggerates, Owdboggy!
Perhaps you've got a valuable new discovery April violets?

How about one of the black bugbanes, like Actaea simplex 'Black Negligee', or one of her kin?

I'll buy that Tugbrethil - I've just been googling & looks like a match to me! Big Kudos to you :-) The flower spike is just right.

Funny how even those in the know can be caught out. Cimicifuga racemosa atropurpurea is now more properly called Actaea simplex atropurpurea which includes Black Negligee etc. So, though I got the old name, at least I was correct.

Black Negligee? Good lord, whatever next... bet that was named by a man!

Share the Kudos Owdboggy :-)

Ouch! Sorry Owdboggy! It was obvious that I wasn't reading as carefully as I could have been, because I missed your suggestion entirely. Wait, maybe it wasn't there when I posted! Yeah, that's the ticket.... ; D

I think, Tug, that Owdboggy did get it right, but just used the older name for the same plant. I'm still snarled up on the black negligee bit, bloomin' cheek, bit sexist. Might as well call it black yfronts...

That wouldn't describe the lacy foliage Bamboo. 'Black y fronts' would be a good name for something chunkier - is there a black leaved Bergenia, for example?
I'm sure we can think of a good candidate....
The number of people who misspell paeonies make me wonder if one variety could be called 'black y fronts'

I was actually more familiar with the older name, and almost used it, but decided to be a good little botanist and use the "proper" name. I just plain missed Owdboggy's post.

My experience on GoY includes situations where I would post something, it would show up in the proper sequence, and then I would come back later to find two or three posts inserted behind mine. There is a faint possibility that that is what happened here, but--in spite of my joking--I doubt it. So, apologies to Owdboggy!

That does seem possible cos I didn't see Owdboggy's post either Tug - til I went back and looked for it.

I've just had an email from an online nursery offering me Actaea Simplex Brunette AGM - and guess what? It looks just like this. :-)

I cannot thank you all enough for all the hard work you have put into finding the name of the plant. I dont know how you actually track it down but Thank You all so very much. You are all very talented and I wish you a very happy week !! So are you going to buy one of the plants Beattie lol ? it is a very handsome plant !! Best wishes to everyone your part of a great group !!

It is absolutely lovely April violets, but I have that colour and similar leaf form covered as I have Sambucus nigra Black Beauty which is taking off like a rocket (I do need it to contribute to a wind break, so that's OK). It'll be on my list for the next lot of planting which will be in a fire break, so only low growing, herbaceous plants permitted.