Teasel - I still really like it, it’s great in the wild life area, it’s sculptural, the birds and bees love it.
But oh my god, the number of seedlings. It’s absolutely everywhere, it definitely was not a good idea… I’m still pulling them up daily, it’s never ending.
I was considering getting a plant or two. I think I'll leave it to the wild areas.
Have you thought about growing some globe artichokes. Very sculptural in growth similar to teazles, lovely giant sized globes of flowers which the bees adore, I love watching the bees dive head first into the purple petals, bottoms wagging in delight. The artichokes do not seed in my garden, come up every year, and if you want, you can eat the heads with garlic butter.
I grow an artichoke for the foliage and flowers. It's probably about 15 years old . I've never thought of seeing if it will seed. It has inched it's way sideways along the border, though.
Gooseneck Loosestrife and Jerusalem Artichokes. Both attractive, both completely unstoppable. I had them planted in a chaotic 135-foot by 4-foot pollinator garden at my last house, and they hitched a ride to my new house by hiding in the rootballs of the daylilies and other perennials I'd dug to bring with me. Live and learn!
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
Hops. We decided back in 1978 to ask a neighbour if we could rescue some hops growing in his hedge. He said yes. Wish he had said no! We are still pulling it out. We can't dig it out as it has grown in amongst other plants.
I bought 3 for £5 shrubs from a supermarket a couple of years ago. A weigelia, a deutzia and and a Philadelphus. All really disappointing. Take up loads of space, finally flowered a week or so ago but barely anything and already over. The weigelia must have flowered while the weather was still awful because all I saw was 2 or 3 stems with spent blooms on. They will all be coming out and something better value going in their place.
A hardy geranium which has rampantly spread over several years. The bees love it for about 2 weeks then the flowers die and it sits for the other 50 weeks totally unproductive. I have a cunning plan!
@Angelicant I planted a weigela a few years back and have yet to see a single flower and there has only been new growth on one side, the other is just bare stem. I was willing to give it one last chance this year but since it hasn't bucked its ideas up, it'll be coming out in the autumn.
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They will all be coming out and something better value going in their place.