I don't and looked in last years pics....the leaves are a blue-green and angled...4 sided if that helps?

Vera

...oh but just realized they probably haven't grown the characteristic 4 sided leaves as of yet...duh...
Here's a pic of seedlings on this page; just scroll down :D

Here is a link that might be useful: V. bonariensis

Thanks Vera, but these plants are much older. I have a flat of tiny seedlings so I know what the wee babies look like, but these volunteers (if that's what they are) are probably 3-4 inches wide and 4 inches tall already.

Maybe I should take pictures of each one and post them, and see what you all think...

Yes...that would be better :D
btw I finally found a pic of my 2006 seedlings, but won't help you now LOL! I know I took pics of other plants last year with lots of these volunteers in the way, but danged if I can find them.
This is the closest I could come to 4"....see the (2) to the left near the Amaranthus 'Intense Purple'?
{{gwi:341282}}

Vera

Well, crud!
According to your pic, Vera, I think I've been pulling VB seedlings as weeds.
~sigh~
Well, at least now I know and can pay more attention. lol.
Thanks for asking the question, farfaraway. You may have saved a few 'lives'.
:)

Oh no! I hope this helps for the future then
Just remember to pay attention to the 4 sided angled stems (like mint) .....I said leaves earlier...but hey it was just a little after 6am and first cup of coffee!!

I'm glad I looked at this thread. I think I just identified a mystery seedling in one of my containers I dumped over. It's four-sided, angled, and has a little bit of a purple color in the center like the seedlings on the link. Cool!

Farfaraway, don't feel bad. Most everyone has taken special care of weeds at one point or another. I potted up and pampered a weed pretty far into the summer last year:) I posted pictures of a couple plants whose identity I was unsure of, and someone here told me it was extremely invasive and to destroy it right away. There are so many on this forum who are helpful and knowledgeable. Maybe if I hang out here long enough, it will rub off on me.

Verbena bonariensis sounds like a bad word to me now. I have volunteers- millions of them- covering every surface of every bed. Doesn't seem like I'll ever get rid of it. No more of that for me- ever!!!

Karen

That's how it was for me last year too Karen! It wasn't hard hoeing them out or pulling. I had probably just as many Larkspur and Amaranthus 'Intense Purple' self-sown seedlings. I think I've gotten rid of most of the German Chamomile, but we'll see. The only aggressive perennial re-seeder I have is Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) hands down!!! I've been pulling them up for a month now and they just keep coming. No more letting them go to seed for trades :O

Vera

Vera: I'm a slow learner. I had a million of the verbena volunteers last year too, but I had left them for the seeds to mature so I could harvest. Last fall, I yanked every one early, when it was just starting to set seed, so I didn't expect so many volunteers. Wrong! Those stupid little seeds blew into every bed, even where I had none planted. I will do my best to eradicate it this year, and never plant it again. I suspect I will be years getting rid of it. I liked the plant, but it's not worth this.

Karen

Wow....I only got it in the beds I planted it originally! I don't know what this year brings because we are on day 21 of 20 degrees below normal in a period of 30 days!! When will it ever end? So much is behind schedule! Supposed to be climbing out of it into the 50's by tomorrow but still ain't what it ought to be :(

Vera