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Weed id

Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
in Plants
I was planning some sort of ground cover under my Acer but don’t think I’ve sown this intentionally. Is it a weed? It’s spreading rapidly so I suspect so but I’ve not seen it before. 
My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


Posts

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,063
    Does it feel sticky, if it does its a weed.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,584
    It looks like purple toadflax, linaria purpurea. It is a weed but the bees love it.
  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
    It does look like that sticky weed but it’s not sticky and isn’t growing in long strands like that does. I have that too! Thanks for reply Ceres. I asked about a big plant that was in the same place some weeks ago and that was Linaria P. I pulled it up but clearly not before the seeds fell! All makes sense now. Thank you!
    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
    This is the photo I posted 22 April. I pulled it out a few days later and it was so well rooted that it broke the gardening fork which I’d inherited from my mother. I hope to recognise it in future! Thanks Ceres. 
    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,584
    I always leave a few linaria purpurea in the garden as the bees love them and the plants are free. I grew the pink version a few years back and that seeds as readily as the purple version.
  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
    I was tempted to see the flowers but am somewhat alarmed by how many seeds have germinated. My garden is only small and I'm already fighting a few thugs from plants people have given me that have grown rather too prolifically for the size of my garden! One friend gave me a a tiny sliver of succulent which is now a 6ft long mat in 3 years, also some blue geraniums and acanthus, both of which I have to hack back regularly. Her garden is maybe 20 times the size of mine so now I know why these plants suit her and not me!
    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • B3B3 Posts: 27,022
    Linaria purpurea is not a thug. It is easy to pull out if you don't want it and you can cut off the spent flowers before they set seed 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,527
    I am actively trying to grow Linaria purpurea in my garden.
    My Mum has it seeding all over her garden and it looks lovely.Hoping the ones I have transplanted will seed around.
    Not a thug and pretty easy to just pull up the ones in the 'wrong' place!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,022
    @madpenguin. If they don't take. Leave pot with some bare soil in her garden. There'll probably be at least one plant in it next year.😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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