have lots of these plants i,ll be taking out, would like to trade for any red iris , or pride of ireland , also blue daisys or asters , not sure witch they are called . am open to other plants as well . thanks Nancy

Hello marymax, I think it depends: what kind of soil, temperatures in your area. I came across that funny little plant when I wrote my thesis on an old garden near Berlin, botanizing/ making an inventory of all plants, on sandy soil, with dry summer and rather cold winters with little snow. The Duchesnea grew near shrubs or in an neglected, former lawn/meadow situation. Under those conditions, I clocked the plant rather as being resilient than competitive. So it kept going when the rest started starving or wilting. It spreads by stolons, so that it a plus for the groundcover angle. IMO you can hardly compare it with Catmint (Nepeta?) as the latter is showier, more competitive and much taller. For semi-shade, and round/ near shrubs on somewhat poor soil they could work. On rich soil with good water supply I would go for something else, like Geranium or Waldsteinia. Well, enjoy that funny faux-strawberry, bye, Lin

I haven't got a clue what your climate is, but the following information might help: Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, Anthemis nobilis, Family: Asteraceae): Half-hardy perennial, sometimes grown as an annual, to 60cm. Chamomile will grow in full sun in milder climates but prefers partial shade in hot climates. Seeds should be sown in spring, at an ideal temperature of 20°C, and established plants can be divided. Seeds germinate in less than 2 weeks. It may also be propagated by root division. Do not allow the soil to dry out but water well and provide good drainage. Cut back in autumn to promote new growth. Mulch in winter in harsh climates. One variety, C. nobilis ÂTreneague does not produce flowers or seeds and is preferred for lawns. Chamomile grows best in a sunny position, in well-drained sandy soil which is slightly acidic, pH 6.0-7.5. It will tolerate light shade. Pull out any seedlings which are unusually tall. These are probably the seedlings of the less desirable German Chamomile (see below). After flowering, cut back to main growth. German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Family: Compositae/Asteraceae) is also known as Sweet False Chamomile. It is the annual form of chamomile, similar in appearance, habits and uses to the Roman Chamomile, though usually taller, about 70cm, its flowers are slightly smaller and they have hollow, yellow central disks. The foliage is not as fragrant but the dried flowers are less bitter than those of C. nobile. It will self seed readily once established. Here in the subtropics, I tried ONCE to create a small chamomile lawn. It was an abysmal failure - the fierce heat of our sun simply cooked the plants to a crisp! Since that failed attempt, I have always regarded chamomile as a cooler-climate plant.

Here’s some information from the Colorado Department of Agriculture: Erodium cicutarium, Redstem filaree is designated as a “List C” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act. It is required to be either eradicated, contained, or suppressed depending on the local infestations. The aim of the Noxious Weed Program is to control noxious weeds, the non-native aggressive invaders that replace native vegetation, reduce agricultural productivity, cause wind and water erosion and pose an increased threat to communities from wildfire. We do this by preventing the introduction of new invasive species; eradicating species with isolated or limited populations and containing and managing those invasive species that are well-established and widespread. From FAQs: Why should residents and visitors to Colorado care about Noxious Weeds? Noxious weeds threaten valuable wildlife habitat and natural resources, cause economic hardships to agricultural producers, and are a nuisance for recreational activities. The Noxious Weed Act requires all Colorado residents to control noxious weeds using integrated methods to manage noxious weeds if the same is likely to be materially damaging to the land of neighboring landowners. And here’s some more info from an international Noxious Weed site: ~ Kimball and Schiffman (2003) discuss the characteristics of E. cicutarium that make it such a problem weed: E. cicutarium germinates and flowers early and continues to flower throughout the growing season, giving it a longer inductive time period than many later-maturing annual species; E. cicutarium is a fierce competitor, producing many seeds that germinate early, developing a deep tap root quickly, depleting soil water, and preventing sunlight from reaching seedlings of other species that germinate later and it may prevent establishment of perennial grasses by blocking access to light. ~ Erodium cicutarium is an annual, winter annual or biennial that is a pioneer on disturbed and arid sites. It can cause yield reductions of crops and the seed is very difficult to clean out of small seeded crops. Erodium cicutarium is considered a noxious weed as it crowds out or outcompetes crops and native plant species. An integrated approach to the management of Erodium cicutarium is important, especially since herbicides for in-crop control of E. cicutarium are limited and control is often unsatisfactory. I would encourage you--and everyone!--to do all you can to remove this weed from your property. Noxious weeds become noxious weeds because they do not STAY on just one lot—or in one county—or in one state! They spread everywhere—destroying native plants and habitat as they go! Erodium cicutarium is already on the noxious weed list in FORTY SIX states! Please help, in any way you can, to control it. Every little bit helps! Skybird P.S. MileHiGirl, I’m finding contradictory info about whether it’s on the B or C list in Colorado. But if it truly is on the B list, that’s an even higher priority for removing it!