unknown plants - bulgaria

[karaman]

hallo,

spending some time in bulgaria and have come across some plants i have not seen before.

1. red-stalk - this grows to 8 feet and is just cut down for winter, i assume its a perennial
2. the purple flowers - gorgeous thing, what is it, i defenitely want one
3. dark berries - perennial 'weed' I am told but again, i want one

thanks

karaman the spirit never dies

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[Pat Kiewicz]

Looks like Ricinus communis (Castor bean). Not winter hardy in cold climates, but grown as an annual.

Reminds me of Salvia argentea, but the flowers do not seem right.

Poke weed, Phytolacca americana. Not sure what it is doing in Bulgaria, but it is a weed and very likely to escape cultivation anywhere it is taken (spread by birds eating the fruit).