Plant & Weed ID Megathread

messin doorman

Hi folks, am hoping for your help with a silly question. A while ago I put together a “bulb lasagne” – ie a large pot with various bulbs at various depths, with the idea being that they will bloom throughout most of the year.

Last year I think (but I am unsure) I purchased a packet of seeds. I am unsure what seeds I bought (or whether in fact I did buy and sow seeds), but they would have been flowers of some description, and probably have been a pereniel. ​

As you will see from these photos the pot is covered with foliage (sometimes turning red).​

I had no flowers on these plants last year (but I may sown them too late or they in fact not flower in the first year).​

Anyway, where I am now is as follows. I think the foliage along the bottom of the pot is a flower of some description, however given my doubt, I fear that there is an (outside) possibility that I didn’t sew seeds and that perhaps this is a weed of some description. Can anyone recognise these leaves and put my mind to rest that they are not weeds requiring removal?​

Apologies for the mortifying question!​

The hastate (you'll have to google that to see what I mean) leaves look like they might be Sheep's Sorrel, Rumex acetosella, a wildflower/weed

messin doorman

Deleted User wrote: »

The hastate (you'll have to google that to see what I mean) leaves look like they might be Sheep's Sorrel, Rumex acetosella, a wildflower/weed

Thanks very much. May be sheep's sorrell now. Is it a weed so requiring removal? Or did i buy a packet of seeds of these? Would you leave it there?

You wouldn't have packets of these, but if you showed a wildflower mix, it could be from that, they can contain anything as filler. It's extremely persistent, whether to remove is up to you.

lottpaul

It's a very invasive weed. You need to remove it - and remove it, and remove it again. It will smother your flowers and bulbs. It just blew in or else was in the soil that you used when you planted them up in the first place.

messin doorman

lottpaul wrote: »

It's a very invasive weed. You need to remove it - and remove it, and remove it again. It will smother your flowers and bulbs. It just blew in or else was in the soil that you used when you planted them up in the first place.

Thanks to the last few posters.

For the record I did sow wildflower there a year or two ago (cornflower) with the idea being that as soon as the spring and early summer bulbs die off I’d have some late summer colour (which worked really well).

So I went out this morning to try remove it and by gum it’s hard work. It’s like I’m just pulling the foliage now and the roots are so deep.

I may either continue to pull away at the foliage giving some flowers a chance to breakthrough (but I feel that the roots are so dense).

Otherwise I might cut my losses with “spring bulb lasagne” take out all bulbs, repot it. Maybe sow a dahlia or two and nerines (ie later flowering bulbs, which i still should/could be in time to plant).

Not sure precisely what to do.

See I do see a fritiliaria making its way through, so I’m tempted by option 1 so I might actually see him for the first time since I planted him a couple of years ago.

Thoughts and suggestions very very welcome.

lottpaul

I'd pull out what you can, repeatedly, for another few weeks and then when bulb flowering is over but before the foliage dies down you can turn out the pot, gently tease out the bulbs and then replant, perhaps in smaller pots which you can monitor more closely and maybe cover the earth with a very, very light covering of gravel or similar.

Dick Turnip

Hi,

I inherited a few plants for my apartment and would really appreciate if someone could identify them so that I can go about looking after them properly as I don't want to over/under water them. I have zero clue about these matters unfortunately!

I think I need to transfer plant A in to a larger pot when the shops reopen anyway.

Thanks

looksee

I'm not great on houseplant names, but I work mostly on a basis of types for watering (and a good deal of forgetting to water, which mostly seems to work fine). However the first one is a very nice, but very commonly available 'palm' of some sort. Pretty tough, water once a week. That one does appear to be ready to transplant, but it has some nice young growth and I would tend to wait till the autumn to transplant it.

The second one I believe is called trailing bamboo, but I am not sure, it looks a bit like a succulent which would be different treatment, so maybe someone else will answer that.

The third one appears to be an aloe, very easy, don't overwater, it will stand quite happily in dryish compost. If you see the tips of the leaves tending to wrinkle a bit then give it a good drink, then leave it alone.

Nice selection of plants, enjoy!

New Home

I think the first is a Kentia, the third looks like a variety of Aloe to me, too, and the second one is an IDontHaveACluesonia Major. :pac:

Google reverse image search confirms the first and the third, and the second too (not what I thought it was, what Looksee said! )

Dick Turnip

That's amazing - thanks both!

lucalux

The third one looks almost identical to Alworthia (Aloe Vera crossed with Haworthia)

Alworthia Black Gem is the one I have I think

Lovely plants!

Dick Turnip

So the first one (Kentia) I bought in Dunnes a number of months ago but threw out the label on the day. It's been doing well and I love it but now that I'm home all day every day looking at it I just feel like I should be doing more with it, which brought me on here to identify it!

The other two were here when I moved in. The Alworthia is great as I've forgotten about if for weeks on end, barely needs any attention or care.

Have been purchasing a €1 bunch of daffodils every week recently just to add a bit of colour to the place but planning on adding some more plants when restrictions ease off in time.

jmreire

Some advice needed, please. I bought 3 fruit trees from Lidl a few weeks ago, and planted them according to the instructions on the label. They were plum trees BTW. My 1st choice from the few that were available was a fine hardy big specimen, with the buds showing a little bit of green leaf even back then. The 2nd plant , while not as strong as the 1st one, was hardy enough, with plenty of buds visible. The 3rd one, was definitely on life-support, but I took it anyway. So now fast forward a bit, and the situation is, Tree Nr 1, looks to be dying. Gone is the emerging green tips on the bud's, and the stem's / branch's seem to be shedding their skin, and turning a rusty color. ( sorry, but I'm unable to upload the pics)
Tree Nr 2 is thriving, already showing leaves, and Nr 3 has made a good recovery....the bud's are starting to show a hint of green at their tips.
The only thing that I can think of what happened to Tree Nr. 1 was that after planting, we had a few nights of heavy frost, so would the frost account for the condition of tree Nr 1? Or would something else have caused it? For now, I will leave it in situ,,,in the hope that maybe it will make a comeback, as the frost should not have any effect on the root's? Any advice?
Thank's for any help you can give.
‪

looksee

They should not have been showing leaf a few weeks ago - I just put in one yesterday which has no sign of leaves at all (Lidl apple tree) but I have no doubt it is fine. A plum tree is just showing a couple of leaves and both are fine. Supermarkets like Lidl have no idea how to look after plants and they are often kept too warm for too long so that they are sprouting before they should.

Anyway, yes, probably the frost affected the damaged tree. Have you been watering them? We have had about a week of dry breezy weather now and newly planted thing will dry out very quickly. Give them a good drink - not a sprinkle from a hose, a steady gallon or so poured on slowly. And presumably you have them staked? Not to keep the stem rigid, its better for them to flex, but to make sure the roots do not rock in the ground.

Don't give up on the dodgy tree yet, if it has not produced any leaves in another month then likely it is not going to rally, but give it time.

jmreire

looksee wrote: »

They should not have been showing leaf a few weeks ago - I just put in one yesterday which has no sign of leaves at all (Lidl apple tree) but I have no doubt it is fine. A plum tree is just showing a couple of leaves and both are fine. Supermarkets like Lidl have no idea how to look after plants and they are often kept too warm for too long so that they are sprouting before they should.

Anyway, yes, probably the frost affected the damaged tree. Have you been watering them? We have had about a week of dry breezy weather now and newly planted thing will dry out very quickly. Give them a good drink - not a sprinkle from a hose, a steady gallon or so poured on slowly. And presumably you have them staked? Not to keep the stem rigid, its better for them to flex, but to make sure the roots do not rock in the ground.

Don't give up on the dodgy tree yet, if it has not produced any leaves in another month then likely it is not going to rally, but give it time.

Yes you are dead right about the leaves appearing. At about the same time I bought the plum tree's in Lidl, I also bought some apple trees ( Golden Delicious) in Aldi, and again planted them as per instructions, but its only since the temp went up a bit last week that the buds are starting to show a bit of green at their tips, whereas their brothers still in Aldi, are actually showing Flowers...but then again, they are right inside the windows in the local Aldi shop,,,,greenhouse effect, sun shining straight in the windows directly on to the tree's. I'll run the garden hose on to them tomorrow, including the rusty one.... I can't figure out how to create an URL to post the pics, but the "Green Skin" on the branches, has started to peel off, and it looks exactly like rust particles flaking off metal. Best way I can describe it. Thanks for your help, Looksee.

BlueSkyDay

Hi.
Was digging in the ditch and found these bulbs.

How do I plant these?,I think they are from a green reeds type plant with red tiny flowers at the top.

Here's a pic.

looksee

No pic, I think you do not have enough posts to put up a pic. Any chance its this http://www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=177&wildflower=Montbretia ? The bulbs are kind of flattish with a rough skin and are often in 'stacks'.

kylith

If that’s what they are take care planting them, they have a habit of running riot and taking over.

kylith

If that’s what they are take care planting them, they have a habit of running riot and taking over.

lottpaul

kylith wrote: »

If that’s what they are take care planting them, they have a habit of running riot and taking over.

This times 100 - they are impossible to control in open ground of any sort - if you really, really like them plant some in a few pots instead. Even the "bought" varieties like Lucifer, Mars etc are invasive. I treat them like mint and grow them only in large containers.

Another warning re Montbretia, it really is a plague, they can resprout and grow happily even after being dug up. Terribly invasive inside and outside gardens.

looksee

we haven't established that it is Montbretia yet - though what everyone is saying is true!

GrumpyMe

Found this lost under collapsed clematis/honeysuckle/perennial sweetpea mess.
Looks like purple beech but I'm not convinced - any alternative suggestions?
It is about 1m high and .5m on top of an almost bare stem(s) probably from the lack of light!

https://imgur.com/vhyST5g
https://i.imgur.com/CITpi5M.jpg

New Home

Box (buxus), if you ask me, but it depends on how big the leaves are.

GrumpyMe

3x1.5mm at most

New Home

GrumpyMe wrote: »

3x1.5mm at most

Yes, I'd say it's box hedge.

macraignil

GrumpyMe wrote: »

3x1.5mm at most

Made me think of this type of myrtle. But just guessing really.

Reckless Abandonment

Privet maybe.. I've seen go that colour when stressed.

Reckless Abandonment

Privet maybe.. I've seen go that colour when stressed.

standardg60

macraignil wrote: »

Made me think of this type of myrtle. But just guessing really.

That was certainly my first thought, and second..

New Home

I stand corrected.

GrumpyMe

Thank y'all for the efforts - I think macraignil is correct.
The ridged leaf, stem style and the colour definitely match up.

Now that it can see the light I can't wait for confirmation by the presence of "in summer, lightly fragrant, open cup-shaped, white flowers followed by ovoid, dark red fruit."

nihicib2

Hi all, can anyone identify this plant, Im fencing a small area to graze my goats and want to make sure there's nothing poisonous for them there, I dont know what this is though, any ideas?

nihicib2

nihicib2 wrote: »

Hi all, can anyone identify this plant, Im fencing a small area to graze my goats and want to make sure there's nothing poisonous for them there, I dont know what this is though, any ideas?

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea

nihicib2

Deleted User wrote: »

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea

Thank you

They're toxic to goats and many other animals so they'll be dug up tomorrow

macraignil

nihicib2 wrote: »

Thank you

They're toxic to goats and many other animals so they'll be dug up tomorrow

They have very good flowers for bumble bees if you have somewhere to move them to .

nihicib2

macraignil wrote: »

They have very good flowers for bumble bees if you have somewhere to move them to .

Ill try and find a goat proofed home for them

chooey

Is this parsley? I’m trying to sort out my veg patch from last year and have lots of this growing and I know that I’d planted some last year. Thanks a mill

New Home

No, it's some kind of buttercup (can't remember the name).

EDIT: Actually, I'm not so sure, now, looking at the second picture.
EDIT 2: No, the leaf from the first picture definitely isn't, parsley isn't furry. And should also smell strongly of parsley!

finla

Looks like creeping buttercup to me, or possible meadow buttercup. The Creeping one is very invasive, spreads by rhizomes. I would dig it up wherever you see it.

chooey

Ok great, thanks so much. Will dig it up as there’s lots there. Apart from mint and chives, would you have an idea on the other herbs? I’m finding it so difficult to distinguish between picture online

chooey

Ok great, thanks so much. Will dig it up as there’s lots there. Apart from mint and chives, would you have an idea on the other herbs? I’m finding it so difficult to distinguish between picture online

chooey

Ok great, thanks so much. Will dig it up as there’s lots there. Apart from mint and chives, would you have an idea on the other herbs? I’m finding it so difficult to distinguish between picture online

New Home

chooey wrote: »

Ok great, thanks so much. Will dig it up as there’s lots there. Apart from mint and chives, would you have an idea on the other herbs? I’m finding it so difficult to distinguish between picture online

The one with orangy stems is a type of euphorbia (a weed, too - be careful with the sap, it can burn).
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=508876&d=1586433753

I think the other one with small, furry leaves is some kind of bedding plant, I can see it in my head but I can't think of the name.

MacDanger

chooey wrote: »

Ok great, thanks so much. Will dig it up as there’s lots there. Apart from mint and chives, would you have an idea on the other herbs? I’m finding it so difficult to distinguish between picture online

Maybe you know already but be careful with mint, it can spread like mad. I usually plant it in a container

Harry Palmr

I got a bunch of unknown bulbs last winter and the attached pic shows what is coming up. Any ideas?

Igotadose

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I got a bunch of unknown bulbs last winter and the attached pic shows what is coming up. Any ideas?

Muscari?

Igotadose

Igotadose wrote: »

Muscari?

Could be, but most Muscari is well in flower by now. Bluebell?

New Home

Bluebells or agapanthus, would be my guess.