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Are these weeds?

Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
in Plants
I've got two plants/weeds that I don't think recognise and don't recollect planting. Does anyone recognise them?
My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


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Posts

  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    Top one looks like Eleagnus and the bottom one is Linaria
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think the 1st is eleagnus - does it have big thorns?
    the 2nd is a euphorbia

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    oops - yes 2nd is linaria

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
    Thank you Pete and Lorraine. No the first one doesn't have thorns. It's quite thick at the base (about 1 cm) and and the stems are very bendy and supple. I've not planted an eleagnus or linaria so I think both are weeds to me. Although the linaria looks like it might be pretty so it might get a stay of execution as long as it doesn't interfere with my acer that I moved last summer and is right behind it as you can see in the photo.
    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I think Eleagnus and Euphorbia. Just looked at my Euphorbia Wulfenii.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I thought euphorbia too at first - but I think it's the close-up photo that lead me astray.
    Grow the linaria and if you don't like it, dig it up before it drops seed.
    I really like them - it'll probably have blue flowers like this

    The eleagnus does develop big thorns in time, I removed a very big one from my garden a few years ago - it was a painful experience. The young foliage has a dusty, yellowish appearance. But it's quite a boring shrub tbh.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    I think Eleagnus and Euphorbia. Just looked at my Euphorbia Wulfenii.
    I’m with Lizzie, Euphorbia. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The bits lying on the bricks are doing what Lineria does. Euphorbia  W doesn't do that.
    It could be two plants one of each though
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    True B3, leave it to flower, we’ll soon see. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think there's a way to find out...
    I've got both in my garden.
    I just snapped a leaf from the euphorbia, and I can see the white milky sap (don't let it get on your skin)
    I snapped the top from a linaria, and the sap is clear.

    I think B3 may have solved the conundrum, so try a leaf from the bit laying across the brick edging and then snap a leaf from the taller more upright one and let us know what you find

    Love a good mystery :)

    Billericay - Essex

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