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Weed on our lawn

Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
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This plant is growing densely on part of our lawn - last year there were a dozen or so, now there are more than 50.  It starts as a rosette but because the lawn hasn't been mowed for a couple of months the plants have grown taller.  What is it, and does it flower later in the year?There is also an oxalis growing in with the rosette style plant

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  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,959
    Some kind of ragwort maybe ?
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    Looks like ragwort to me, too.  The type which grows here has small and insignificant flowers so I only leave them in 'wild' parts of the garden (they provide nectar and other food for 2-3 dozen insect species, I believe.)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,523
    Not sure if it is ragwort,the leaves don't look right.
    Would also like to know what it is as I have one on my lawn!!

    Ragwort:-

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,029
    I saw that thread title and thought you just hadn't been able to make it into the house quickly enough, GD.... :D
    Looks quite ragworty to me too. If nut[cutlet] is around, she'll be able to confirm - or not  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Ha, Ha! Fairygirl. I have been known to water the grass in desperation but this section of weeds is just outside my daughter and son-in-law's part of the house so a little too public to put my privates on display.

    Ragwort - oh no.  Could it really be that noxious weed?  Yes nut would probably give the definitive answer however I am interested to read what Bob mentioned about nectar and insects liking this plant - I must admit I was thinking of transplanting a few of these to our new wild flower area (there is a yellow flower on ragwort) but if I mention the word ragwort to my OH he is sure to eradicate them all. How can I get them past him? I will have to make up another name for them perhaps.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I don't think it's ragwort - or not the one that poisons livestock, but I don't know what it is. We get them, too, but the grass is cut too regularly to see any flowers. To be honest, GD there are so many plants that attract insects that you can afford to give ragwort a miss. They spread so easily and are so difficult to control.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,312
    I don't know but I don't think it's Ragwort. Ragwort leaves have a distinctive smell to them, do these smell?


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,523
    edited January 2019
    Checked all my wild flower books last night!
    Not ragwort as it has many leaflets rather than ragworts raggedy one leaf.
    Still cannot find it's identity though.......
    I shall leave it as it is in my mini meadow lawn and see what happens when it flowers,may be easier to identify then.

    This is also worth a read about Ragwort:-
    https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/ragwort-poisonous-ragwort-mythbuster
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I'm afraid articles like this make me very cross. Ragwort IS sometimes eaten by livestock, especially if there is 
    little grass available . As for keeping it out of hay - for Heaven's sake - a farmer cuts tens of acres of field. Do you imagine he hops down to remove every stalk of ragwort? Or that an owner can identify every bit in huge bales of hay? It's much safer to reduce or eliminate it on all grazing land and on land close to grazing, to be safe.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 571
    Hear, Hear, Posy; 
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