What in teh heck is this thing?

[dragonshiner]

So, I am finally digging in to my bf's two tiered raised flower bed. I was not around to see anything of what was in it last year. All I know is that it is right smack up against the north side of the house where it gets NO SUNLIGHT WHAT SO EVER! I bought a full shade garden package from Michigan Bulb Company to put in there. But in the last two weeks a few little sprouts have popped up that are definitely perennial flowers. There are only six of them all in a straight row. So I decided to plant around them.
As I was digging though I found the one plant on the far end, different from all the other established plants, was going to be difficult. It is just starting to peek through, and I wish I had a camera but I want to know what the heck it is before I decide to get rid of it.
It has some dark red leaves, kinda pointy, and the roots are thick 1/2 thick tubers that are extremely long and tough. A couple of the roots were almost two feet long. This is causing some real trouble with the rest of the garden planning.
I know this is not much in the way of description but if you have any ideas I'd appreciate them.

 

[ducks4you]

, dragonshiner!
Gonna be hard to help without pictures!
Could you take some and post them?

 

[vfem]

, dragonshiner!
Gonna be hard to help without pictures!
Could you take some and post them?

Agreed! Too many species of plant out there to guess without photos... and even with photos it would be a slew of guesses!

 

[dragonshiner]

Lol Sorry guys.

I do actually have a digital camera but it's back home. I spend my weekends at the bf's house. He has been focusing on the interior of the house since he bought it and the former owner had been neglecting the backyard something fierce from what I can tell. So I've taken it upon myself to make things grow out there. Especially since I miss living on the farm and having endless amounts of space for things to grow.

I think I'm going put the plant I dug up in a container with some dirt and when I get hold of my camera I'll post a pic or two.

 

[nittygrittydirtdigger]

Any chance it's a peony? They start out that way before the leaves green up and the foliage fills out.

 

[patandchickens]

Red-leaved shoots coming up from tough tuberous base says "peony" to me, and that is a plausible location for one.

Pat

 

[dragonshiner]

Hmm, it does have some striking similarities to peony shoots I'm seeing online. That could be it. But my bf said that it didn't flower last year, only foliage. Do peonies not flower until after so many years?

 

[4grandbabies]

Wow, thought I could solve a mystery for you, but as I scrolled down, I saw my opinion was the same as everyone elses, the first thing I thought of was Peony.!

 

[journey11]

Don't peonies need sun to bloom? Might be why you only got foliage.

 

[nittygrittydirtdigger]

Peonies will tolerate a little shade, but they really prefer full sun. If they aren't happy where they are, it's very possible that there won't be blooms. If it turns out to be a peony, you can transplant it this fall, but it will likely sulk for a year or two before blooming.