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Plant/weed I.D?

GraysGrays Posts: 172
in Plants
Hi all,
Back again with a couple of suspicious looking plants that reappear this time for the last two years while we have lived here, I’ve got a small bed at the top of the garden that has been completely taken over by forget me nots (which look nice) we haven’t decided exactly what to do with this area yet, but there are two slightly different plants with white flowers which appear at this time, are they weeds and need pulling out, or something a bit better? Hope the photos show the situation properly.
Cheers.
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Posts

  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    The top picture is Hesperis Matronalis, common name Sweet Rocket (one of my Grandmother's favourite plants). The other plant is a weed, Jack-by-the-Hedge.
    Also in the top picture is a small piece of Ajuga (small blue flower spike). 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited May 2018
    The bottom 2 are Jack in the Hedge - very invasive.
    I've no idea where they came from (birds I guess) but over the last few years I've had thousands of seedlings of these appearing in my garden throughout the year. Get rid before the seed sets

    PS - the leaves taste a bit like garlic, and they are edible 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    After another look at the top picture there is also Cleavers and what could be bramble or raspberry.
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Thanks for the replies.
    So the top one is to be kept, and dig the others out then?
    Loraine3, that is a raspberry plant in the top photo you are correct.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I grow hesperis myself (the pink/mauve variety) and is looking lovely atm. I should have recognized it.. it's biennial, so if you let is drop seed, you'll have new plants next year. Also smells lovely.

    Pull the Jack by the hedge up asap or you'll have a garden full of them

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Thanks again, I’ll dig them all up tonight.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    edited May 2018
    leave a few, they are the food plant for the Orange Tip butterfly larvae.
    There are probably eggs/larvae on some of them now. Selective weeding is the way to go. Leave a few for the butterflies every year, they're biennials so they die after seeding. You can weed out the ones you don't want in Autumn, leave a few for spring. Our native wildlife needs all the help it can get


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Thanks, will do,
    still unsure exaxtly what to do with this bed, what would you advise to do with the forget me nots? They have totally taken over from last year, just dig them all out maybe?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    As they go over pull them all out - they will self seed profusely - just pull them out where you don't want them - you'll have loads pop up for next year

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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