In January 2022, when pruning back a hybrid Fuchsia ‘Angel's Earrings,' I was startled to discover a strange plant sharing its pot. The fuchsia had lived in our Suisun City yard since I bought it at the San Francisco Botanical Garden over a decade ago. By “strange plant,” I mean that the interloper looked weird and wasn't any weed or cultivated garden plant that I recognized. And by “weird,” I mean way unlike any other plant I was familiar with. For starters, the long, branched stems were unjointed and had no leaves. Herewith are two photos taken that winter. 

I was stumped. Are you? Can you identify this plant off the top of your head? No cheating, now!!—No iNaturalist, no Internet searches, no botany textbooks or consulting other people. Just your horticultural expertise. Please enter your ID guess in the Comments section at the end of this post. If you are right, I will exalt your name in next month's blog post, along with the correct answer.

Thank you and more soon!

Mystery plant sharing a pot with a dormant Fuchsia. photos by Patricia Matteson

Closeup of mystery plant.