That's a petunia, which can easily self seed. I wouldn't consider it a weed.

in my z5 MI ... i have NEVER had one reseed .. ever ...

so you must be in the further south z5

but definitely a petunia .. wish i had weeds like that ... lol..

ken

Yes, petunia. I just moved one I found growing between the bricks in the patio to the front of one of my beds.

I was graced with 3 of these in my flower bed last summer that must have been gifted to me by the birds or wind because I have never planted petunias ever. If i had not procrastinated so long in clearing the weeds, I never would have known they were there because I really thought they were just weeds until they developed flower buds. Two were white and one was a gorgeous deep purple. I waited with fingers crossed this year to see if they would re-seed and sure enough, I have about a dozen or more beautiful petunia plants this year. Most of them are a very beautiful fuschia colored pinkish purple, which must have been the crossing of the 2 white plants with the purple one. I feel very blessed for that! (i'm in Oklahoma zone 7).

Another welcome volunteer I got last year which I never planted was a very pretty brick red portulaca and a neon dark pink one. They both grew into a very pretty round mat of flowers. I have lots of them that have sprung up this year.

No such luck this year in getting unexpected gifts - i only got a big bunch of purslane which I thought i'd better rip out before it had a chance to take over my beds. Oh, one wild violet showed up last year that I probably need to pull out but it's such a cute mound of tear- shaped leaves I havenT done it yet.

I often have a few petunias reseed.

Amateur here, is it possible that the reason some don't reseed well, is that they are special commercial varieties that are sort of bread not to? Inbred to much? Or is it a lack of pollinators? Just trying to learn. ( =

I'm in Michigan also and I've never in my life seen a Petunia reseed!

many years ago, mine would reseed. but the newer varieties not only don't reseed, but die after the first blooms. I'm not the only one having this problem around here. Several of us say we are never having petunias again and they used to be my favorites. (of course I always fall off the wagon and buy some anyway.)

OP here. Very interesting discussion. Except for this one plant, nothing like it has been seen around for at least the last couple of years.

Maybe it'd be nice to think some "Johnny Petuniaseed" is traversing the nation.

Johnny Petuniaseed! I love it! He can come to my yard.

yes it could be cultivars at the extreme of their genetics.. meaning sterile ...

but its also zone ... i am pretty sure.. they are a warm zone plant .. used as annuals in the great white north ..

as many annuals are ... i mean.. warm zone perennials ... but cold zone annuals ...

ken

My petunia weed bloomed today, though I suspect it might actually be Calibrachoa. I did not have plants like this last year and I think it probably came from a neighbor via squirrel.

I think it's a petunia, too - the leaves look too wide to be a calibrochea.

I have these too and while the flowers certainly look like petunias, the leaves do not. they’re much bigger, rounder, and they neither have the charicteristic sticky of petunias, nor the smell. Mine also just popped up and do not get water and I’m in a very dry climate.

If you start your own post and include a picture and your location I'm pretty sure someone will be able to name it for you.

It's definitely a petunia.