Another Plant ID Post

July 17, 2015 1:37 PM

What the heck is this bush that is popping up ALL OVER my yard?

It starts out small but gets big fast, like within 2 months it is 6 feet tall. We have two in our back yard that are over 10 feet tall and about 8 in our front yard that I'm pulling out this weekend.

Pretty much every time I turn around three more are popping up and are already a foot tall (ok our yard is a tad "unruly"). They aren't unattractive, which is why we let the two in the back get bigger, but I don't want a yard that is only these things and I'd like to know what I'm dealing with.

We live in Austin, TX. Thank you!!

posted by magnetsphere to Science & Nature (5 answers total)

Best answer: That looks like an Eastern Redbud.
posted by jquinby at 1:41 PM on July 17, 2015

Best answer: (here are pics of the leaves. The heart shape is one of the giveaways)
posted by jquinby at 1:42 PM on July 17, 2015

Response by poster: YESSSS! The big ones totally DID flower last year.

THANK YOU!
posted by magnetsphere at 1:45 PM on July 17, 2015

Are you sure it's not a type of knotweed? Google "japanese Knotweed"... you might have the Giant version.
posted by RedEmma at 8:48 AM on July 18, 2015

Eastern redbud seeds have both physical and physiological barriers to dormancy, so they can last underground for years until conditions are right for germination. We had our tree cut years ago, and seedlings still pop up in the shaded area where it resided.
posted by gray17 at 7:07 PM on July 18, 2015