Can anyone please tell me what those green leafy plants growing all around my Hosta's are? It looks like it's mutated with the Hosta leaves. They're pretty green foliage, kinda looks like a wild version of my Hosta.
I have to keep them in check, because they grow like crazy!
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unless it is snowing........I think goutweed would look so pretty in a container......plus it is free, right? and can't get away from you in there. You know you could be on to something....I bet it would be the last thing to go in the fall. I will pot some too and I bet before long it will be shown in Gardening Life!! The price will double at the garden centers and it will be prized by all... I am going to start building a fence around mine right now...you know ...those maurauding gangster type gardeners... I am serious about the pot thing.. tho. Great Idea
Seven dollars a pot, wow!! I'm not going to take it all out, just transplant some of it to hard to grow areas. You're right, it's not affecting my Hostas one bit, but I am shocked at the speed with which it spreads. By the time I push my hair out of my eyes, I've got 10 more shoots coming up!! I'm thinking of putting some in an interesting planter I picked up at a yard sale, since it's too late for annuals. What do you think?
Hi Elise...I wanted to mention that goutweed is sold as a perennial around here. It is on sale for about $7 a pot! When it seems out of control, consider the investment you have there....Actually I have been yanking mine out as it does suck all the water out of the ground and I was very late with my planting this year...it really got ahead of me. If you really want to get rid of it, use a spade and dig up the whole clump, roots, dirt and all...if it is a temp thing (like just for now) pull up the stalks, and it will come back. I think it is very nice in its own clumps and I do love the lacy flowers especially in a natural setting with losts of green. It will compete with annuals tho but probably won't bother your hosta. I didn't know it was toxic ..I must be immune, after 24 years of dealing with its aggressive behaviour. Don't be afraid to take charge here. Like Dreamer said, you will be admired for it!
people are staring at my parts, er, plants, that those glances are admiring. It is good to live in my world, Elise, where I believe all love and exalt me.
Now, some may say I am a little delusional, but really, life is better when you can stretch a little compliment into massive worship, or twist every phrase into abject flattery, or amplify a peek into open-mouthed awe...
If you haven't tried it yet, give it a shot!
Yes Dreamer, I've also noticed some of my neighbours eyeing it
as they stroll by.It really is quite pretty!! Or, actually they might be staring at my exotic collection of plastic flowers artfully arranged in one of my dad's old work boots!! Hmmm, whatever the case I'm sure it's because they're green with jealousy at something. Isn't that
what we always like to think.
If you squint with your remaining eye, don't you find the goutweed has the same effect as the hosta, with less effort?
Goutweed in my alley nicely blocks my view of the neighbour's trash which is, naturally, never in the can and generally out plenty early so the other neighbour's dog has the opportunity to rip out open. I love goutweed!
I have often wished this! some day I will PURPOSELY set out to grow goutweed and other lovely, toxic, invasive things. And, no doubt, they will then decide not to grow at all for me, because I want them to. Such is the mystery of life and gardening ;-))
it is a great looking weed. I have some clumps in areas where they cannot invade anything else. Grows great in shady spots and looks so pretty in white & green. It flowers with a tall stem with clump of flowers on top. I dead head all flowers though. Poisonous to animals and people and can cause a bad rash on some people.
Thank you for all of your excellent advise. I will definately transplant some of it, Foxxy thanks for your warning about the toxicness of it.
Why can't other plants that we love grow this crazy?
one good looking weed!! Sorry had to say that, I'm sure it's not funny when you try to control it. I have horse weeds, very strong roots and soo invasive.
BC
This is very invasive and you are better to plant it where it will be contained. Underground root system causes it to pop up all over.
It is very pretty in a small area that you can contain. The sap from the plant is toxic. Some people wear gloves when pulling it out to avoid skin rashes. It is hard to kill off and seems to grow anywhere.
Elise, no one will laugh at you! Small patches can look quite nice in places of where nothing else does well....under pine trees, and black walnut trees. It is a garden plant but will easily take over...I have it growing wildly along one side of my house amongst some bushes and very large hosta...I have not had the time to get at it. Yank out every bit you see and try and get the root...which spreads under ground....Wet the dirt first and they come out easily. They will flower if you leave them ...I try and keep a small patch contained..I do like it in spring when they cover up dying blub leaves and look fresh and bright... once my summer plants are in ...the stuff really annoys me!
Yes!! yes!!! that's it!! It does look pretty doesn't it!
Thanks a million!! Now I don't have to look the fool all the time.
for comparison purposes.
Could it be the infamous "goutweed"? Goutweed does not grow like hosta, in a nice neat shape, but does have lovely variagated leaves of green and cream, and is extremely hardy and invasive. I have goutweed growing happily in a corner bed where nothing else will grow.
Well, they are a celery green colour with white lines running all over them. Their leaves are much shorter and broader than a Hosta"s.
They almost look like a very, very, cheap knock off of one.
They only grow around this one particular Hosta, my other one's are O.K.
Norm, they grow like crazy, and I am always scaling it down.
I have a bare spot in my back yard and am thinking of transplanting
some of it there. But I'm afraid people will point at it, laugh and call
me names!!!
Hi Elise, I wonder if you have violets there...they seem to love the same conditions as hosta and I have been pulling them out like mad for 2 weeks....their leaves are much bigger than they are in the spring when they are flowering and will become very invasive, weather permitting. They don't look anything like the beautiful spring flower that I am always happy to see.
does it? A description, Elise, and we will try and put on our *plant-identification-hats* for you!
please for us the leaf shape and size and colour(s) and blooms if any. Are there tendrils wrapped around the hostas?
Sorry, no pic, no camera!!! Boo hoo hoo!!
a pic would help, or am I missing something? ;-))