skip to main content

Mystery volunteers

13 years ago

I have a small Hosta bed that produced a surprise patch of trillium, now this year, it seems to have several more volunteers.
One is blooming and I have id'd it as Dutchman's Breeches. I am not sure what the two in this picture may by. The ferny leaves don't quite look the same as Dutchman leaves, but I'm not certain.

I can't find them in my searches on native databases, but I'm fairly certain they are native woodland dwellers in Michigan as I have seen them in the deep northern woods. The fact that they are showing up in my Metro Detroit area back yard is fun. I want to make sure to take care of them properly.

Any ideas? Also, I transplanted the Hostas from my mother's house and she was plant collector.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

mosswitch
13 years ago
The spotted laf is erythronium, or trout lily. The finely disected leaf looks like Dutchman's breeches (dicentra). The other one in the bottom right is a weed, henbit.

This post was edited by mosswitch on Thu, May 2, 13 at 18:39
Liz321
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you!! I knew it was something cool, but I haven't seen it in decades, so I couldn't remember. I was out weeding today and took a close look. It is EVERYWHERE in the bed. Now I will be watching everything that pops up to see if it is a native plant or endangered.

I cannot believe I have trout lily, trillium and Dutchman's breeches in my little back of the garage bed!! The henbit is already gone. :0)
Related Discussions
Mystery volunteer
Q
Comments (4)
That's probably it. It is used for livestock feed and in bird seed mixes (among other things), so I wouldn't doubt it would be included in hen scratch, too. You can read the package and see if it's listed specifically as an ingredient. This part of your garden will be for the birds!
...See More
Mystery volunteer shrub
Q
Comments (2)
God, you're good! Thanks, nhbabs.
...See More
Mysterious volunteer rose
Q
Comments (13)
It's still multiflora. But in a garden situation, it is great rose. there is 'wild' multiflora called R. multiflora carnea that is a subtle light pink. I've seen it in scatterd woodland places (natural variability in seeds from back when the USDA encouraged the planting of multilflora for stream bank stabilization, for reclaiming mined areas, for lessening the effects of cars crossing interstate medians at high speed, and as a sustainable substitute for barbed wire. Multiflora only becomes rampant and unmanageable when the landowners don't care. It will carry RRD the same as almost every other rose in our part of the world. But it carrys it ONLY if it's infected from another rose. I like the color of your foundling, and you might enjoy watching it 'grow up'.
...See More
ID help for mystery volunteer vine
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks for your reply. My first thought was that it was some weird kind of morning glory. About 7 years ago, I grew a Heavenly Blue one. I’ll attach a pic. Although I was scrupulous about deadheading the flowers every day, the next year, some seedlings of it sprang up. The flowers were much smaller and paler, and I pulled them all out. Could this little white thing possibly be a mutated descendant? The flower shape is unlike that of the original m.g. flower, and this one has started flowering in mid-winter here, whereas the blue one flowered only in autumn. I can’t see any images of this little white flower on the internet. Most ipomeas are viewed with great disfavour - horror - in Australia.
...See More
mosswitch
13 years ago
The trout lily will probably be completely gone, dormant, in a few weeks. But it will come back next spring! Kind of remember where they are so you don't dig them up accidentally. They don't need any care but might they might need to mature for a year or so before they bloom. All those wildflowers will go dormant for the summer.

Sandy
Liz321
Original Author
13 years ago
That is just fine since the Host will be taking over the bed soon! :) I will mark them for next year. Thanks!
Iris GW
13 years ago
You must have brought in some rich soil from elsewhere that had those things in it. I agree, good stuff!

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Use Scrim to Add a Seductive Quality to Your Garden

Your garden may be asking for depth and intrigue. Give it what it wants

GARDENING GUIDES Beautiful Flowers and Foliage From Dedicated Backyard Gardeners

By Stacy Briscoe

From lawn daisies to topiaries, Houzz users share their backyard beauties

LIFE Houzz Call: Where (and What) Are You Reading This Summer?

By Stacy Briscoe

Whether you favor contemporary, classic or beach reads, do the long and lazy days of summer bring out the lit lover in you?

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD World of Design: 11 Book Lovers and Where They Like to Read

Bibliophiles across the globe reveal their top books and favorite reading spots, from a 2-story library to an artfully curated book nook

DENS AND LIBRARIES How to Care for Your Home Library

By Laura Gaskill

Increase your enjoyment of books with these ideas for storing, stacking and displaying them

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: How to Care for American Goldfinches

By Habitat Network

The American goldfinch is a bright-in-the-summer visitor and one of the only vegetarian songbirds. Here's how to give them a healthy habitat

DECLUTTERING 10 Types of Clutter to Toss Today

By Laura Gaskill

Clear the decks and give the heave-ho to these unneeded items

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Curiosities Tell a Story

By Nikki To Photography

An interiors stylist uses her house as a 3D timeline of her tales and travels

LANDSCAPE DESIGN What Kind of Gardener Are You? Find Your Archetype

Pick from our descriptions to create a garden that matches your personality and tells your story

Sponsored

Foremost Siding & Exterior Design Solutions in Columbus

More Discussions

cold stratification?

1