This weed is everywhere on my plot and I'm wondering if someone can ID it, now I have let one go to flower!
Someone posted some pics a few days ago of a weed that turned out to be fat hen, which looked very much like a baby one of these, so I thought it might be that. But I have now been told this is not fat hen (flowers are at the top, not up the stalk). A friend showed it to her horticulture tutor who said it was shepherds purse... but it doesnt look like the pics and doesnt have a purse!
This has a very tough stalk , and its roots go down several inches, branching off underground and popping up everywhere. A nightmare to pull up as the roots tend to snap off at ground level, and they are fairly immune to Roundup! Covering it with black plastic only tends to make it grow more vigorously.
Any ideas?
Could it be this (I hope not)
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/japanese_knotweed/identifyjapknot.htm (http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/japanese_knotweed/identifyjapknot.htm)
Doesn't look like any Japanese Knotweed I've seen... and JK doesn't snap off easily at the roots.. (unless you are using a machete?) :-\
it looks like the white form of Valerian, Centranthus Ruber
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/images/products/31650.jpg (http://www.highcountrygardens.com/images/products/31650.jpg)
Agree, its Valerian - a bit of a thug but you can dig it out. I spent a whole afternoon once digging the red version out of my mum's teeny patio garden about 10ft x 4 ft. Just make sure you get out all the seedlings that come up in the next couple of years early and you'll get on top of it.
Hmm.. not sure its Valerian, unless there are several different types. The leaves are described here http://www.shoppingbank.com/sb/pia/d/centranthus+ruber+albus+valerian+plant/pid/4262538/ as being "fleshy" and the leaves look like they are arranged symetrically up the stalk, whereas my weed has non-symetrical arrangement (if this makes sense).
The flowers do look similar but I thought that Valerian grew in clumps, whereas this weed is everywhere (I'm talking every spare inch of ground!) and there is no way anyone would want to plant it on purpose!
can you place a ruler beside the plant when taking a photo? it'll give aid to identification ;)
I once planted red valerian from my sister's garden- before long it was growing from the bottoms of our neighbours' walls- I had to be ruthless (and vowed to never plant it again!).
I knew the plant you posted but couldn't put a name to it cus it was always just too rubbish to look up. :D. It's not valerian, it's Hoary Cress. That's my final offer ;D
learnt something new, and it's not even 9 am!
Aha! Definitely Hoary Cress.
http://www.utahweed.org/weed_hcress.htm
Thanks for that.. dont think identifying it is going to make it any easier to get rid of the evil stuff though!
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=114229318600919&topic=72
;D ;D ;D..shepheds purse.... ;D ;D ;D..what does tutors know ::)..it doesn't look nothing like it.... ;D..oh how many times did I prove my tutors wrong with their knowlege...I just wonder how do they get their jobs... ::)..oh dear..another one...
Quote from: lewic on June 01, 2010, 10:35:21
Aha! Definitely Hoary Cress.
http://www.utahweed.org/weed_hcress.htm
Thanks for that.. dont think identifying it is going to make it any easier to get rid of the evil stuff though!
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=114229318600919&topic=72
blimey, it's on Facebook! does it Tweet also?