Name This Weed

REEN

Rozanne behaves herself here. Maybe our soggy soil doesn't suit too well.

I like the look of that saponaria. It would be nice with lysimachia firecracker which is in need of some competition.

dogstarheaven

When I got into medicinal herbs, naively I planted saponaria, the normal pink one and it spread like billy-o, never again! I learnt my lesson(s) many times over that one and other flowers that I thought was pretty (valerian!)

madjackslam

Reen wrote: »

I liked the look of Bill so I looked it up and found this:
http://www.barlownurseries.co.uk/blog/2012/05/geranium-pyrenaicum-bill-wallis-a-health-warning/ Apparently he's not always so well behaved!

The photo in the blog you've linked to doesn't look like Bill Wallis to me. Dave's, however, does look like the Bill Wallis I know and... well, I think it's a great plant, the flowers look amazing in an early summer evening, really zing out. But, I have to vote for it being a nuisance. Gets everywhere, and digs itself in, so not as easy to get out as other annual geraniums.

Davesnave

madjackslam wrote: »

The photo in the blog you've linked to doesn't look like Bill Wallis to me. Dave's, however, does look like the Bill Wallis I know and... well, I think it's a great plant, the flowers look amazing in an early summer evening, really zing out. But, I have to vote for it being a nuisance. Gets everywhere, and digs itself in, so not as easy to get out as other annual geraniums.

I agree with you, Barlow Nurseres don't seem to have the real Bill Wallis there.

Incidentally, I've never found out where the name 'Bill Wallis' came from. Bill Wallis the actor, whom I knew, didn't think it was him, although he once played a Shakespearean part, dressed head to toe in a costume of roughly the right colour.

madjackslam

I like to be set a challenge, Dave (and I've always wondered too). You can find the answer here http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/plants/geranium-bill-wallis/4109.html in the comments. Written by his son-in-law, so presumably a reliable source!

Davesnave

That's brilliant detective work! Thanks ! :T

moneyistooshorttomention

Some geraniums have uses - always worth a google to see if this one is either edible or medicinal...

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Some geraniums have uses - always worth a google to see if this one is either edible or medicinal...

So far as I know, the only one which may be safely consumed 'neat' is a pelargonium.

There is often confusion when the word 'geranium' is used. A good proportion of people are referring to pelargoniums when they say, "geranium.".