Another "is this a weed?" thread 23 May 2022 at 12:00PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 9 replies 426 views

droopsnoot

I have lots of these all over the garden - in the vegetable patch, and in the various borders around the place. Are they weeds, and are they the same weed? They both seem to have red stems towards the lower end, though the second photo has red leaves as well - I was thinking that might just be further on than the first photo.



I did have a look for a free plant identifier app for iPhone but got lost in the massive number of them, does anyone recommend one?

in_my_wellies

I've been pulling up those this morning - weeds as far as I'm concerned. 
Possibly a type of Rose Bay Willow Herb / Fireweed

droopsnoot

Thanks. I've pulled a lot out of the vegetable patch because I'm sure they shouldn't be in there - I had cleared it, though it turns out I'd missed loads of potatoes which are now making their presence felt.

I'm just not sure about the flower beds - I didn't plant any of them, and since I cut back some large plants a while back, lots of things have been appearing that I had forgotten were there. That said, most of these are just popping up in gaps.

greenbee

I think it's American willowherb (if not, it's something very similar as IMW says). Very pretty, but gets EVERYWHERE. 

LessImpecunious

It's a willowherb, or Epilobium sp. (there are lots of species, not sure which one you've got!), which are closely related to the Rosebay Willowherb. The latter can be quite invasive via spreading roots; most of the Epilobiums don't do this, so it's not a major "weed", though they tend to seed everywhere, as greenbee says, and some make extra little rosettes from the base, so can be annoying in the wrong place.... They have quite pretty pink flowers, but you probably want to pull them out before they go to seed, if not before...

Woolsery

This plant manages to look like several others, so you miss it when it's next to a Penstemon, Sweet William or Phlox. Mine only rarely get to seed, yet I still have hundreds every year. It's pretty glyphosate resistant too. Quite a successful weed, but not deep rooted, so easily hoed-out. Being an Epilobium, it might harbour fuchsia rust, but there again, so do some nurseries!

25_Years_On

I agree it's American willowherb. Annoying and persistent like many of the Epilobiums. Rosebay (Chamaenerion sp.) is much nicer, much bigger and far less annoying. I always keep a patch going.

droopsnoot

Thanks everyone, I have begun the long task of pulling them up. As noted above, at least they're easy to pull up.

droopsnoot

And I must apologise, it turns out this is the same thing I asked about almost exactly a year ago and, strangely enough, got the same answer.

Woolsery

Well at least we're consistent here and no one noticed!