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Plant ID: Help Me Identify This Volunteer Plant

xylemphloemcallie

16 years ago

What could this be? I'm helping a friend identify a volunteer plant that popped up his garden. At first, I thought it might be some variety of maple tree based on the leaf structure, but the stem of the plant seems less woody than that of a maple tree would be. If you have any ideas, please pass them along. Thanks!

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Here is a link that might be useful: Xylem & Phloem Garden Blog

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Comments (5)

west_texas_peg
16 years ago
Perhaps Mulberry??

Peggy
xylemphloemcallie
Original Author
16 years ago
That's an idea... But the leaf shape isn't consistent with mulberry. Plus, mulberry leaves are typically matte where this leaf is shiny.

Callie
http://www.xylemandphloem.com
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I was going to say the same thing but waited. If it is something that you have planted in rows, 18" apart, then its got to be some garden veggies not morning glories. So, as Fatamorgana has suggested, it might be sweet potatoes. I have not seen anything other than morning glories with three-lobed leaves. Never planted sweet potatoe. Passiflora Incarnata has similar leaf shape, but I doubt that you planted that one.
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Ankraras, Thanks...that's really close in appearance, but it's not low growing, and the stems are smooth, not hairy like that. It seems to be a bush and not a sprawling ground cover like the spurge, with leaves much bigger than the spotted spurge. Its stems seem to be a little woodier instead of succulent. Let's see what other options we can dig up. (no pun) Comparing my "Image 2" from my second post from the top to the image on the page below reveals that it's much different. I'm fairly convinced that this is NOT a weed. Here is a link that might be useful: Euphorbia Maculata (Spotted Spurge)
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They are mulberries and are also a host plant for silk worm moths. There was a teacher recently looking for mulberry leaves on another discussion forum I visit for some silk worms they bought as a learning aid for the students so they could see them go through their life cycle. They hadn't planned ahead well enough though and couldn't find mulberry leaves even though I posted a link for her to see the leaves. It wasn't actually for her class, but for another grade, but still you would think they would plan ahead for something like that. Yes, mulberries are considered to be "trash trees", but if you live out in the country and don't mind having an area that is a bit unkept (usually way out back from the house), mulberries make a great plant for a bird garden. They will attract lots of wonderful song birds and if they do rot and fall over, that is just brush where the birds can hide from predators. You gotta look at things from a birds point of view. ;-)
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Your plant, one of my favorites) is Bush Ivy (Fatshedera lizei). It is important to understand how it grows to use it correctly. Unlike other ivies, it does not have little roots that cling. It must be supported (espalied) on a wall, fence or pergola. As it matures in your zone it will send out branches that could be 12' long and it becomes very heavy so needs a strong support. It can be pruned back and controlled any time of the year. I have grown it on a fence using tiers of grape wire supended through screw eyes and the branches afixed to the wire with single wrap velcro. Also, the entrance to my garden in a former home was a strong arch with Bush Ivy secured to it. In the late winter you will note quite a bit of yellowing and dropping leaves. Normal situation not to worry about. Hopefully you can find a growing situation for this plant. It is a beauty.
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little_dani
16 years ago
I guarantee it is a mulberry.

I promise, whether the leaves are inconsistant or not.

They morph when they are young.

THAT is a mulberry.

Bane of my gardening life- they are EVERYWHERE!

Janie
missinformation
16 years ago
Oh noooo, I have one of those trying to shoot up through the middle of a silverado sage right now. I snipped it off as low as I could get, but I noticed today that it's back. I'll have to get out there to "shock and awe" it once it stops raining. That's the last thing I need....
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
16 years ago
I've mentioned this before, but my method to handle seedling trees that are too well rooted to pull up is the use the little spray bottle (that fake butter comes in) and spray (more like drip) the cut end with undiluted broad leaf weed killer. Saves having to get in there and dig it out. The seedling can be cut at any length, just getting the stuff on the open cut kills it. I carry the bottle in my garden holster to have it handy as we have a lot of little hackberry, oak and pecan seedlings coming up all the time.

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