What weeds are these?
April 16, 2011 3:42 PM Subscribe
I'm having some trouble identifying two weeds in my yard/garden.
I've checked the UC Davis Weed Gallery and the University of Wisconsin Weed Management website and I am coming up blank.
Offender #1. Image 1 and image 2.
Unfortunately I did not get a picture of this while it was still in the ground. It was growing in my vegetable garden among the chives. When I pulled it out I did not bring up any roots with it, just a long blanched stalk, which leads me to believe it's coming off a bulb or a rhizome. The leaf is triangular, glossy, and variegated and about 8-10 inches long. The plant itself was growing in a clump and it was about a foot high.
Offender #2. Image 1 and image 2.
This thing is growing where my lantana was last year. My neighbor has one coming up in her front yard as well (in a flower bed) but I haven't had a chance to ask her what it is. It reminds me of a thistle, but it's not spiny. The leaves are hairy, it's about 2 feet tall, and the flower heads look like they've got purple petals. I haven't pulled this one out yet because it's not in the way of anything and it might be something nice. But if it's invasive it's gotta go.
Pertinent facts: I live near Folsom, California. There are lots of birds so things get randomly deposited in my yard. And I'm usually really good about identifying weeds/plants.
I've checked the UC Davis Weed Gallery and the University of Wisconsin Weed Management website and I am coming up blank.
Offender #1. Image 1 and image 2.
Unfortunately I did not get a picture of this while it was still in the ground. It was growing in my vegetable garden among the chives. When I pulled it out I did not bring up any roots with it, just a long blanched stalk, which leads me to believe it's coming off a bulb or a rhizome. The leaf is triangular, glossy, and variegated and about 8-10 inches long. The plant itself was growing in a clump and it was about a foot high.
Offender #2. Image 1 and image 2.
This thing is growing where my lantana was last year. My neighbor has one coming up in her front yard as well (in a flower bed) but I haven't had a chance to ask her what it is. It reminds me of a thistle, but it's not spiny. The leaves are hairy, it's about 2 feet tall, and the flower heads look like they've got purple petals. I haven't pulled this one out yet because it's not in the way of anything and it might be something nice. But if it's invasive it's gotta go.
Pertinent facts: I live near Folsom, California. There are lots of birds so things get randomly deposited in my yard. And I'm usually really good about identifying weeds/plants.
Response by poster: My hero! That one came up on the University of Wisconsin's website and it didn't look anything like what I pulled out so I dismissed it completely.
posted by elsietheeel at 3:50 PM on April 16, 2011
posted by elsietheeel at 3:50 PM on April 16, 2011
Best answer: I would have guessed something from the mustard family (Brassica) for Weed 1... but just a wild guess.
posted by IAmBroom at 5:09 PM on April 16, 2011
posted by IAmBroom at 5:09 PM on April 16, 2011
I would also suggest U of Missouri's weed id page as well. It helped me ID the wintercress growing in my yard this year.
From their site, I would say #2 is New England Aster which is only as much of a weed as you want it to be.
I thought it might be Chicory but the leaves are wrong and go too high up the stalk or possibly wild bergamot but the stem doesn't look woody enough. I wouldn't consider either of those a weed either as bees and butterflies are fond of both.
posted by fiercekitten at 10:50 PM on April 16, 2011
From their site, I would say #2 is New England Aster which is only as much of a weed as you want it to be.
I thought it might be Chicory but the leaves are wrong and go too high up the stalk or possibly wild bergamot but the stem doesn't look woody enough. I wouldn't consider either of those a weed either as bees and butterflies are fond of both.
posted by fiercekitten at 10:50 PM on April 16, 2011
Response by poster: Definitely not chicory or anything in the Monarda genus, I checked that pretty thoroughly. The leaves of the New England aster are wrong, but I'll have a look through the rest of the Asteraceae family.
And thanks for the link!
posted by elsietheeel at 11:15 PM on April 16, 2011
And thanks for the link!
posted by elsietheeel at 11:15 PM on April 16, 2011
Response by poster: I think stock is getting close. It's looking to be some sort of brassica. I opened one of the flowers on the corymb just now and there are four sepals and petals.
Flower head closeup.
Flower head from the side.
It might be a Hesperis matronalis but most of the images I'm finding of that have toothed leaves.
This is very frustrating. I think I'll probably pull it just it case it IS dame's rocket.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:38 AM on April 17, 2011
Flower head closeup.
Flower head from the side.
It might be a Hesperis matronalis but most of the images I'm finding of that have toothed leaves.
This is very frustrating. I think I'll probably pull it just it case it IS dame's rocket.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:38 AM on April 17, 2011
Response by poster: Nevermind, I just noticed the leaves on my mystery plant are toothed as well.
I'm calling it Hesperis matronalis and I'm pulling it out today.
Thanks for the help everyone!
posted by elsietheeel at 9:54 AM on April 17, 2011
I'm calling it Hesperis matronalis and I'm pulling it out today.
Thanks for the help everyone!
posted by elsietheeel at 9:54 AM on April 17, 2011
Response by poster: Aaand when I pulled it out I noticed it had several friends in other nearby locations in my yard.
They're all gone now.
I planted a hop rhizome in the place it used to be.
posted by elsietheeel at 4:06 PM on April 17, 2011
They're all gone now.
I planted a hop rhizome in the place it used to be.
posted by elsietheeel at 4:06 PM on April 17, 2011
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posted by purpleclover at 3:45 PM on April 16, 2011