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New England Gardening

Have I been pulling out something I might want? (Need an ID)

16 years ago

Hello,

I've been pulling this plant out of my beds and I'm now wondering if this is a kind of phlox. I don't remember any flowers on it last year (newish yard and I'm just getting down to getting serious about the garden beds --- which are all overcrowded) but I'm wondering if I am pulling something I should be keeping.

Can anyone help? I assumed this tall, leggy thing was a weed but now I'm wondering if I've been pulling something that would finally reward me with a flower!

The plants with variegated leaves

{{gwi:1085089}}

The solid leaf plants

{{gwi:283620}}

Leaf closeup

{{gwi:283623}}

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Comments (10)

PRO
Nancy Vargas Registered Architect
16 years ago
Looks like phlox to me.
ego45
16 years ago
It certainly does look like a Nora Leigh phlox.
I'm talking about the variegated one.
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I've always had a real problem with giving rewards for behaviors that ought to be required, and for a pre-teen/teen completing homework and not lying should be par for the course and, IMO, not rewardable behaviors. I think it sets a bad precedent to reward a child consistently for what should be everyday, routine activities. I think a lot of children today feel entitled enough without expecting a reward every time they behave appropriately. What does this teach children to expect as they become adults? Example, as an adult, I do laundry. I certainly don't enjoy doing laundry, but it needs to be done. If I don't do laundry, I suffer a consequence...I get to wear dirty clothes. When I do the laundry, nobody waltzes in to give me a treat...although sometimes I feel I deserve one:) Now, I'm not opposed to giving a treat now or then for a long-term pattern of good behavior...such as, "I can't remember the last time you lied about not doing your homework and I see that your grades are reflecting that. Let's go see Lincoln Park." I just don't think bribery quite elicits the desired response. Sure, the child may comply with your wishes to get the prize, but the real lesson learned is, "I slacked so much that now I get a prize for doing what I'm supposed to do...yay, me!!!" I think you just need to find the proper privilege to take away for misbehavior. M04, sounds like Lincoln Park may have been it. Maybe SS's getting the picture now and will do as he's supposed to...then when Lincoln Park comes around again (and I know they will!!), he'll be more deserving of going and probably appreciate the opportunity much, much more.
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jant
16 years ago
They both look like Phlox...perhaps the green is David?? White.
mskee
16 years ago
It could also be a type of goldenrod. I had some plants like this that I too, kept yanking. One year I decided to let some go, and they turned out to be goldenrods. Personally, I like them...although some would consider them a weed. I keep many of the plants now. They add a nice touch to a flower arrangement, too!

Emily
mskee
16 years ago
I'm referring to only the solid green leafed plant...not the variegated one!
Emily
zolazin
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, everyone! I've decided to stop pulling and wait and see (though I have to say that I hope the solid leafed plant is not golden rod -- I'm very allergic to it). I've looked up the "Nora Leigh" and that's very pretty -- so I'm going to wait and see what I get.

Thanks again for the help. :)
runktrun
16 years ago
zolazin,
If you are referring to having a "hay-fever" type of reaction to golden rod, you should be looking at different plants as the culprits. It is a rural legend that golden rod causes watering eyes and sneezing.
terrene
16 years ago
They both look like Phlox paniculata to me too. Tall border phlox is my very favorite perennial! I would see what the flowers look like, and weed out or move the ones you don't want.

And KT is right, Goldenrod does not cause hay fever. It is pollinated by insects, not the wind. I think it's ragweed that causes allergies.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
16 years ago
I have generic Phlox paniculata (I think) in my garden. Spreads all over the place, pink, and the hummingbirds adore it.

And I agree that ragweed is the culprit, not goldenrod. It blooms at the same time and grows in similar habitat. Gets me too.

Claire
york_rose
16 years ago
Yes, the ragweeds bloom at the same time as the goldenrods, but have nondescript, barely visible, green flowers that produce TONS of highly allergenic wind-dispersed pollen, while the more prominent, yellow-flowered, sticky pollen goldenrods get all the blame.

I also think these photos look like Phlox paniculata, and will be interested to see pictures once they're in bloom!

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