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Plant or weed?

laarobbinslaarobbins Posts: 55
in Plants

Part of my garden has got a bit out of control. This tall one above is a weed I think?  Also below the red stemmed one I'm not sure, I planted a phlox there last year but I'm not sure that this is it!  Help please!  Thanks, Louise


Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Willowherbs - pull them before they flower and seed all over your garden.

    They do a good job of impersonating phlox and penstemon in the hope you'll miss them :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - don't let them flower and then seed, or you'll have them everywhere...
    If you can gradually learn what they look like as they appear, they're easy enough to pull out or hoe. They can be perennial too, and they look different at that stage - little flat rosettes of foliage. You might be able to find pix online of them.
    I'm afraid I don't have any pix, although there's tons of it round here, but I'm well used to seeing it and pulling it out if it's anywhere near the garden. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Depends how you look at it . They are willow herb but I rather like them , although as @ Pete.8 says they do seed everywhere. If you are keeping a little wild area they’ll be nice . But are I suppose technically a weed . 
  • laarobbinslaarobbins Posts: 55
    Thanks all, much appreciated.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Problem is that their fluffy seeds can blow around for miles, so they won't stay where you want them to.
    There's a huge patch of the very tall willowherbs where I walk with my dog and they do look amazing when they're all in flower, but then the seeds start blowing around everywhere.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They were my absolute nemesis at my last house, as we had a large, wild area on one side of the drive, and of course- the wind continually brought them in. A real PITA. 

    I have to be careful if walking past the endless stands of them round here @Pete.8 - the last thing I need is bringing any seed back home with me!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    Willowherb - often seen by the side of railway tracks !
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