Plant ID

May 24, 2019 2:57 PM

Help me ID some plants?

We recently moved into a new house, and there's a garden box out in the backyard. I have very little gardening experience, and wanted to know what the plants were that are growing out there. Eventually (after some research of course) I'd like to grow a few herbs there. This is in PA if it matters:

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Thanks folks!

posted by cozenedindigo to Home & Garden (12 answers total)

Pic 3 is something in the onion family - scallion or chive etc.

Pic 2 looks like a weed, but with lots of little baby tomato seedlings around it.

Edit: pic 3 has a bunch of baby tomato seedlings too.
posted by fancyoats at 3:03 PM on May 24, 2019 [1 favorite]

#1 might be some kind of stonecrop

#2, my guess is just a weed.

No idea on #3
posted by pilot pirx at 3:04 PM on May 24, 2019 [1 favorite]

Well the tall one in pic 3 is some kind of onion family plant. Could be an onion, could be a leek, could be garlic. The clover looking weed is oxalis (bermuda buttercup if it flowers yellow) a very invasive weed. The large shrubby one in the first pic looks almost like a sedum but that makes no sense- while in pic one the one in the bottom left corner is deffo a weed.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 3:05 PM on May 24, 2019

The one on the right in Pic 1 looks like rosemary.
posted by Neekee at 3:11 PM on May 24, 2019 [2 favorites]

Well the tall one in pic 3 is some kind of onion family plant. Could be an onion, could be a leek, could be garlic

#3's leaves look round in cross-section, so definitely an onion.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:23 PM on May 24, 2019 [1 favorite]

Do you have an Android phone? Picture This.
posted by dobbs at 3:35 PM on May 24, 2019

1. looks like it may be rosemary. Rub the plant between your fingers and see if it smells like it
2. That's a weed.
3. Onion
posted by OnefortheLast at 3:50 PM on May 24, 2019

#2 is likely wild garlic. Unfortunately, it is a weed, and you should pull it out.

#3 is probably an onion that overwintered.

#1--is it sticky or tacky when you crush it between your fingers? If so: weed. I like the suggestion to see what it smells like, but I doubt it's rosemary.

You might find Penn State's plant ID pages helpful; they cover broadleaf plants and grasses and sedges. You could also send your links to your county extension office's Master Gardeners, who should be able to help you identify these plants. (Personally, I'd pull all three out, and make room for things you know and want.)

ETA: Also, ask your Master Gardener/extension office about PSU's soil testing program.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:04 PM on May 24, 2019

I think #1 is a spurge of some kind, #2 has common weeds and tomato volunteers. Your #3 is definitely an onion!
posted by acridrabbit at 5:16 PM on May 24, 2019

I agree that #1 is a stonecrop sedum. (And #3 is definitely an allium of some flavor, probably literally an onion).
posted by janell at 6:28 PM on May 24, 2019

The plant guru I’m visiting says:

1. Unclear, maybe goldenrod and bedstraw
2. Pennycress, a weed
3. Some allium
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:08 PM on May 24, 2019

Pic 1) broad-leafed thing is Conyza canadensis, horseweed. Weedy inedible annual, pull it. Small leafed succulent looks like a Sedum species or related, keep if you like it, I doubt it's particularly edible but they're fun in landscaping.

Pic 2) Thlaspi arvense, field penny cress. Weed, pull it. Plant with the heart-shaped leaves is probably Oxalis stricta or dillenii, native but weedy and they self-sow vigorously--pull it. Keep the tomato seedlings if you like tomatoes!

Pic 3) Looks robust enough to be Allium sativum, cultivated garlic. Allium species at the very least.
posted by Ornate Rocksnail at 1:50 PM on May 26, 2019