Topic: Is this a weed?

[amanda21]

I have the following in my garden and I waited to see if it would produce flowers but all I'm getting are leaves.  I'm not sure if it's a weed or not.  It is filling up a hole in the border - but if it carries on spreading out will swamp other plants.

Any ideas?

[jeanaustin]

It's a weed! and a perennial one!  Botanical name is Heracleum sphondylium - also known as cow parsnip, hogweed and (in Suffolk) cow mumbles.  It will have a white flowers at the top of a tall stem.
At this time of the year, as it's in a border, it may be best to just keep cutting it to ground level (the leaves can be composted) and then dig out the root in the Autumn/Winter - it has a deep root and any piece left in will grow again.

[amanda21]

Thank you!  I suspected as much but wanted to be sure before I hack it down!

[Mrs Ava]

Have it on my allotment, rotten stuff.  And the roots are HUGE!  Good luck.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Keep cutting it back, and it will die off eventually. If you can dig it out, do. I'm getting rid of mine bit by bit, so it can be done!

[Philbasford]

the roots if i remember rightly look like very large parsnips

[Robert_Brenchley]

They do; it's closely related to parsnip. The first year I was on the allotment, I had old parsnips flowering, and didn't know what they were; they looked fairly similar but not so coarse. The bees were all over them collecting pollen.

[Hyacinth]

Are weeds 'trendy'?

Suddenly coming across a lot of this.....don;t remember it from a few years ago, but now it seems to be everywhere - over quite a mileage. Nice to know the 'common' name......

[saddad]

Some may be trendy, but what is happening is now you know what it is your mind is noticing it more than just random greenery that it was before, like knowing tree and shrub names you see more Magnolia for instance once you know what it is....
 ;D