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Plant or weed?

Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
in Plants


Please someone, is this a plant or a weed? To rip out or not to rip out?


Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Is the stem square?  Do the leaves smell quite acrid when crushed? If so I’d say possibly hedge woundwort ... Stachys sylvatica

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Thank you, Dove. The stems are square, not round, furry, but the leaves don't smell acrid or unpleasant, slight fresh smell if anything. They are more rounded, not pointed like the ones in the photos I looked up. Also slightly irregular in shape. Could be the same family if not the one you said.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    There’s lots in the same family ...  😐 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I'll leave it and see what the flowers are like.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I'd say Black Horehound, Ballota nigra


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2019
    I was looking at that in my reference book @nutcutlet ... but BL says it’s not smelly .... but then smell can be very subjective ... 
    most in that family are quite smelly aren’t they? 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    They look similar, even the flowers. Thanks to both of you.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Black Horehound is smelly, I think it is anyway, I will check in a minute. Right now (here) last year's Hedge woundwort had died right back and new shoots flat to the ground. Black Horehound looks like B-L's photo


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I bet that’s it then ... maybe BL has a cold coming 😉  (I hope not) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Black Horehound stinks but maybe not as strong as Hedge Woundwort
    Today's pics
    Black Horehound (with teasel head and geranium bits) old stalks are BH


    Hedge Woundwort



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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