Weed- Hibiscus trionum

Hi...Does anyone know the name of the lovely weed that gows close to the ground like a native mint would look (kinda) but it turns bright orange right now...maybe due to weather or water table...unsure, but the entire plant yurns bright orange...reminds me of coral in an ocean! Anyone know what I am talking about???????? Thanks... Janine

Stinging Nettles are a favorite part of my spring rituals!I go to great lengths to find and gather stinging nettle, not only to dry for tea and hair rinse, but also to blanch and freeze for winter greens. Loses it's sting when dried and/or cooked, have a wonderful robust texture and spincah/like flavor. They are loaded with vitamins & iron!! Try them with a little balsamic vinegar. I bet they will become one of your favorite vegetables! Of course you need to wear gloves to pick them, use the new shoots, up to 6" tall or just the top new leaves of slightly older plants. If you do get stung, the nettle plant itself is the antidote. Scrunch up several leaves and rub on the sting, it will soon ease. Natives here in Alaska traditionally used stinging nettle to ease the pain of arthritis. There is an ancient abandoned Tklinget Indian village about a 20 minute skiff ride from me in Southeast Alaska that has about a 3 acre spot near the beach that is thick with nettles. That is where I go to gather them, I imagine they were planted there on purpose because they are rather scarce otherwise in my area. Wherever you find them growing you'll find really fertile soil. If you want to grow your own, the roots transplant easily - but grow them in containers or they'll become invasive. You didn't ask for all that, but you got it! (:

The natural environment of this Bittercress seems to be in flood plains and along rivers and streams indicating it may well need a fairly moist soil to grow in, although it has adapted to grow in dryer soils. I see this growing in lawns that are watered every day but seldom find it in lawns that are watered once a week, which helps point to the flood plain, river, stream areas described by some. You find the same thing with Yellow Nutsedge, it grows in lawns watered daily but seldom in lawns watered once a week. The attached link may provide some help with control. Here is a link that might be useful: About Bittercress