druids57 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Hello Can anyone help me identify this plant which is taking over my cottage garden? I cant remember planting it but it is seriously running wild. Does it do anything like flower? I hate pulling anything out but may have to make an exception here Thanks a million in anticipation Druid http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=27524&g2_navId=xccf05d6c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Sorry Druid its not a plant i instantly recognise. Not too sure what it could be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 It looks like a stinging nettle to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 That was my initial thought too Christian but stinging nettles have funny little tips to them that look slightly furry - at least the ones that grow in our wood do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Maybe its a different type of nettle, like dead nettle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I thought dead nettle too Google it first before you attempt to pull it out, it could have 1001 household uses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Thanks to you all - I do admit it does look like a stingy nettle but it doesnt sting and is smaller than the couple I have (ladybirds love them ). Maybe it is a dead nettle so I guess I had better start pulling them out - apparently the leaves of this were fed many years ago to young turkeys in the North East according to Google wonder if chickens like them Thanks again Druid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Could it be a mint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Yes I was thinking that mint or lemon balm have just rubbed the leaves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 It's something realted to lemon balm I think, if so get rid or it will spread further Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 It doesn't look like the "lemon balm" I have in my garden (will get a photo). Yours looks like nettle, but doesn't look like dead nettle to me. Could it be honesty? That's the plant that has pink/mauve flowers and the pretty seed heads ( will see if I can find a picture!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Could it be honesty? That's the plant that has pink/mauve flowers and the pretty seed heads ( will see if I can find a picture!) I think it's Honesty too. I have some in my garden and it does spread if not controlled Keep a couple of the plants, they are really pretty when they flower, and when the flowers die you are left with seed heads which have papery scales which you can rub off and then use what's left as dried flowers, if that's your kind of thing Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I couldn't find a good picture of Honesty on the web, and I don't have any in the garden ( Iwant to get some seeds!). But here is my lemon balm - which is a nightmare to get rid of And wild dead nettle and stinging nettle on the right (next to dead nettle on left) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Forgot to say that there are two types of stinging nettle - annual and perennial - but I don't think they look much different. I would let it grow for a while and see if it flowers. If it looks like a weed when it flowers, then dig it up before it seeds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Is it comfrey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 looks too tall, and leaves too narrow to be comfrey - another one that I have just got rid of from my garden. Comfrey also has tough runners, like strawberry plants. Comfrey has blue tubular type flowers that hang down, so if it is comfrey, you should be able to tell quickly. edited to say Comfrey was a good suggestion though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 27, 2008 Author Share Posted April 27, 2008 Thank you all so much - I have weeded out the majority today but left a few plants. A mint is a good suggestion but ive rubbed the leaves and it doesnt smell of anything, honesty perhaps I will watch the remainder and see. It did have runner like roots and in a patch of garden about 2m x 3m i weeded out a black bin liner full so it is obviously very rampant. Thanks again to you all again - chickens, eggs, roses and gardens, omlet beats google anyday and is far more friendly Druid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Definitely looks like Dead Nettle to me. I've had it in the garden - it does have tiny, nondescript white flowers, but the roots run just under the surface of the soil and spread like wildfire! Not too difficult to eradicate it by pulling them up, but it does smoother everything quite quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I think it's comfrey too if it is, it will develop rather beautiful blue flowers. Good news....absolutely the best compost activator and plant food you can get. folk go out of their way to hold of the stuff to cut and bung in the compost heap....speeds it up a treat Bad news.....some of the comfrey family are real thugs. They do take over somewhat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Bocking 14 comfrey does not have the scalloped edged on the leaves. they are straight edged on mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 It is honesty as I have loads and loads of it - just pull it up and put in compost - mine is trying to flower - lots of purple flowers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 It is honesty as I have loads and loads of it - just pull it up and put in compost - mine is trying to flower - lots of purple flowers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/507.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 I've got a close up picture of the honesty in my garden....but I don't know how to post it The leaves are more heartshaped than the 'mystery weed'....I still reckon it's comfrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Comfrey without scallopedy edges clearly we are going to agree to disagree on this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 well, so long as we agree on that we'll be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...