Gardening - what is this?

[Callum_62]

Hi,

We had a young hebe wiri planted in this exact spot last year

It browned off and seemed to die but there was some green growth underneath that noticed a few months ago which I presumed was life in it yet

Over the past 2 months whatever is growing has exploded in size and I'm now pretty certain this is no hebe after all!

Anyone identify this?

I certainly now looks weedy and the leaves don't share the kind of plastic look the hebe did

Hebe from last year first and then the beast that's now replaced it



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[Bangkok Hibby]

There are apps you can use to take a photo of a leaf and they'll identify for you. Also google lens can do it. 🙏🏻

[Moulin Yarns]

Any sign of flower buds?

First impressions are a species of Epolobium (willowherb, a weed)

[Callum_62]

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Any sign of flower buds?

First impressions are a species of Epolobium (willowherb, a weed)

No signs of buds and the stems are smooth

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[Moulin Yarns]

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No signs of buds and the stems are smooth

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Looks like lots of stems from ground level, how easy is it to pull out? Are the stems fleshy, easy crushed?

[Callum_62]

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Looks like lots of stems from ground level, how easy is it to pull out? Are the stems fleshy, easy crushed?

First stem came out easy

Bigger one had these small markings on the stem

Some of the roots spread along way
Can't really crush them

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[wookie70]

I'd say willowherb/fireweed too. We get lots in among our perennial bed.

[Moulin Yarns]

Yeah, think it's a willowherb. An annual weed. Called fireweed because of the speed of colonisation on bare soil. Pull it out before it flowers.

You will recognise it from road verges.

[wookie70]

I'd say willowherb/fireweed too. We get lots in among our perennial bed.

[He's here!]

As others have said it looks like the sort of weed I pull out the soil regularly. Very fast growing although I don't think I've seen it grow in such a concentrated clump in a garden. Not entirely unattractive and as I've heard it said 'a weed is just a plant out of place'.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

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Hi,

We had a young hebe wiri planted in this exact spot last year

It browned off and seemed to die but there was some green growth underneath that noticed a few months ago which I presumed was life in it yet

Over the past 2 months whatever is growing has exploded in size and I'm now pretty certain this is no hebe after all!

Anyone identify this?

I certainly now looks weedy and the leaves don't share the kind of plastic look the hebe did

Hebe from last year first and then the beast that's now replaced it



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As long as it's for personal use you'll probably be OK. 🚬

[Moulin Yarns]

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As long as it's for personal use you'll probably be OK. 🚬

Wrong kind of weed

[overdrive]

Had this growing in a planter in the garden in my old house. I was sure it was a weed. My mum, who likes gardening, didn’t think it was. Glad I’ve been proved right :

It’s the new owner’s problem now. I somehow don’t think he’ll be much into gardening as he’s a 20 something Yorkshireman and his questions about the garden at his viewing centred around the “best spots to drink beer”

[Bangkok Hibby]

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As others have said it looks like the sort of weed I pull out the soil regularly. Very fast growing although I don't think I've seen it grow in such a concentrated clump in a garden. Not entirely unattractive and as I've heard it said 'a weed is just a plant out of place'.

Exactly, there's no such thing as a weed per se. Its just a plant where you don't want it. Take the dandelion for example. 99% of the population just mow them away but don't realise they are an important source of nectar for bees, hoverflies and beetles.

[hibsbollah]

It’s a willowherb. Probably the most common weed in Scottish gardens.

[Crunchie]

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It’s a willowherb. Probably the most common weed in Scottish gardens.

not even close imo, buttercups, daisies and dandelions grow all over my 2 gardens and the neighbours for that matter, not a sign of willowherb.

[1875godsgift]

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not even close imo, buttercups, daisies and dandelions grow all over my 2 gardens and the neighbours for that matter, not a sign of willowherb.

Buttercups and daisies are flowers and the dandelion is a herb

[Crunchie]

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Buttercups and daisies are flowers and the dandelion is a herb

As far as I'm aware they're all classed as weeds, but technically they're wild flowers.

[1875godsgift]

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As far as I'm aware they're all classed as weeds, but technically they're wild flowers.

So if they're all technically wild flowers, then is willowherb the most common weed in Scottish gardens?

[Crunchie]

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So if they're all technically wild flowers, then is willowherb the most common weed in Scottish gardens?

whatever floats your boat.

[1875godsgift]

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whatever floats your boat.

[hibsbollah]

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not even close imo, buttercups, daisies and dandelions grow all over my 2 gardens and the neighbours for that matter, not a sign of willowherb.

If you’re cultivating a soil regularly, digging it, planting stuff on it, the willow herb is the weed you’ll see most of. If it’s a lawn or a neglected area, yes dandelions and daisies will be the most numerous, that’s true. I always think willowherb looks like a small version of the basil plant you buy in the supermarket.

[Callum_62]

To be honest my wife didn't mind the way it looked - I removed it anyway

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[Moulin Yarns]

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not even close imo, buttercups, daisies and dandelions grow all over my 2 gardens and the neighbours for that matter, not a sign of willowherb.

All of the above can be found in grass and contribute to the biodiversity in a garden, the only people who would want to treat them as weeds and get rid are sports groundsmen.

They are all native unlike willowherb which was introduced from the North West of America by plant explorer David Douglas from scone.

[Moulin Yarns]

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To be honest my wife didn't mind the way it looked - I removed it anyway

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👍

[lapsedhibee]

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plant explorer David Douglas from scone.

The utter ******* .

[Moulin Yarns]

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The utter ******* .

One of his mistakes, but he did introduce lots of wonderful plants as well.



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Douglas_(botanist)

[Colr]

Excellent to see a gardening thread on here. Its been a gap in the conversation for some time for us fogeys.

Personally, I’m having a bit of bother with my espeliered apple trees. The leaves are drooping on one (but not its neighbour) and some of the leaves have gone a bit yellow.

[G B Young]

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Exactly, there's no such thing as a weed per se. Its just a plant where you don't want it. Take the dandelion for example. 99% of the population just mow them away but don't realise they are an important source of nectar for bees, hoverflies and beetles.

And the roots can apparently be used as a coffee substitute - or so I read on a nature trail board recently.

[Moulin Yarns]

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And the roots can apparently be used as a coffee substitute - or so I read on a nature trail board recently.

Also a dye plant for wool and cotton. And has medical properties as a diuretic. There is a reason it is called pee the bed. 😁