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Weed or a keeper?

sgoscombesgoscombe Posts: 30
in Plants
Hi

Still fairly new to this gardening lark, but not sure on what this is? Has quite furry leaves and quite silvery in colour, so wasn't sure if it was lambs ear?

TIA

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Very likely to be Stachys, yes  :)
    Some of the Centaureas [knapweed] are also quite furry, but it's more like stachys. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It could be, but I'm edging towards Lychnis coronaria. They look similar at that stage but the lychnis leaves are more rounded at the ends.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited April 2022
    Yes - that's a good shout too @JennyJ.
    I'm not sure mine are that fuzzy though.

    Now I'm going to have to go out and look  :D

    I've done that. My lychnis aren't as fuzzy, and the bigger leaves are more pointed than  the younger ones, from what I could see.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited April 2022
    Lychnis coronaria on the left, Stachys lanata (lamb's ears) on the right.
    I just went out, had a look and picked a leaf of each :)
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Either way, not a weed although the Lychnis self-seeds all over (in my climate and soil anyway, maybe it's less keen where it's cooler and wetter).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • sgoscombesgoscombe Posts: 30
    @JennyJ That is a massive help. Thank you so much. Im fairly sure it Lychnis coronaria then. I think I had one of them in the back of the border when we moved in (having looked at the photos) so I imagine it had self seeded. there's probably 100 of those little plants then  :s  

    Im wondering if I should dig them up and pot them on?
     
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You could, or just move them to where you want them if you don't want them where they've put themselves. I generally just let them grow where they want and pull out any that are too close to other plants.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • sgoscombesgoscombe Posts: 30
    Thanks very much all. 

    I'll leave them be for now and then I can always move them. :)


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