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Should I keep these volunteers?

14 years ago

Here I am again with this volunteer which showed up last year. It was just a small rosette and no one could identify it. There were two and I kept this one. It has grown to be this today (about 12 inches next to Anthemis).

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I found these little guys in the garden near my Penstemon. I almost dug the first one, then I noticed they were 2, then 3 and thought they must be 'something'. They look a bit like lilies, but the stem is wrong. Any ideas?

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A little while back you identified this for me as a primrose. I am glad I kept it: see it here with my forget-me-nots:

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Thank you.

Northerner.

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Comments (10)

beck_wi
14 years ago
To the dismay of my neighbors I'm a big believer in "if its green, it stays"
That being said, I'd keep the primroses, and I'd let the second picture grow to see what they are, simply because they are unique.... but that first one looks like a weed to me, and I'd probably yank it--- if it doesn't look good in the bed with the other plants, that is.
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mnwsgal
14 years ago
Lovely primrose. I am fairly sure that the volunteers in photo two are weeds. I have been pulling them out.
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dorisl
14 years ago
Ive got those same pointy little weeds all over the place also. I had been hoping they were winter aconite, cuz I threw alot of those seeds around two years in a row.

I dunno tho, I have NEVER seen those leaves on the seed site or in any book. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Im letting them grow tho.....
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origami_master
14 years ago
The seedlings in the square black pot look like basswood seedlings
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hepatica_z7
14 years ago
Your first picture may be Dame's Rocket. It has white or lavender flowers with a sweet scent. It is biennial. Nice primroses!
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pitimpinai
14 years ago
Yes, the first one is Dame's Rocket.
The ones in the second picture do not look like any weeds I know. Cute. I would let them grow to see what they are.
The Primrose is very pretty. The Lily of the valley will choke it, though.
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glad2garden
14 years ago
I love Lily of the valley in the spring but can't stand it in the summer when it's choking out everything and looking ratty!
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PVick
14 years ago
That primrose is pretty. I was browsing seedling images at The Seed Site and that second picture looks like Great Burnet.

A possibility??

PV
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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
14 years ago
Have you also tried asking at the link below? Those folks are also really good at naming things.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Name That Plant Forum
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northerner_on
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Since plant #1 is about to flower & I don't care too much for the Anthemis, I will let it grow and see what happens.

Hepatica and Pitimpinai, it is definitely not Dame's Rocket. I have that on the other side of my garden and the leaf texture and placement on the stem is different.

I think I will let the other little plants grow on - they are in a pot and won't hurt anything. If it's a basswood as OrigamiMaster thinks, it's too big for me to keep. Since my garden is a bit 'wild' if it is Great Burnet as PV suggested, it will fit in quite well.

As far is the Lilly of the Valley is concerned, it won't kill my primrose, because it is already gone. I transplanted a few from under my large maple, and every now and then they surface, but I pull them right away. Thanks for the link, Sue. I will definitely try them.
Northerner.
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