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Name That Plant!

Weed doesn't look like a "Weed". What is it? (White Lilly-ish flower)

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Recently a thick-stemmed "weed" appeared in my front lawn. It was quite different than the other invaders we have around here and looked like the end was a large bloom waiting to happen, so I left it alone. A day or two after I noticed it it did indeed blossom into a large white flower with six thin petals. Without having paid much notice of lilies myself (so maybe it's a bad description) I'd say it looks a bit lilly-ish to my untrained eye.

I have no idea what it is, but I'd very much like to. If it's a weed it's certainly an attractive one. So, anyone know what this thing is? (Sorry for the blurry photos.)

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

8 years ago

if you could just give it 6 inches of no mowing ... for a month or two ... you could dig out the bulb and move it to a garden bed ...

on such.. you need to let the plant restore energy.. before it goes dormant ...

if you dig it now.. maybe you win.. maybe you dont ...

but looking at that perfect green carpet .. i doubt you want to let it naturalize.. as flora suggests ...

what surprises me.. with your perfect lawn .. is that it seems immune to excessive fert.. and presumably weed agents ... go figure.. tough little bugger ...

if you want it moved... take a butcher knife ... cut a cross .. pull back the sod.. so you can dig out the bulb ... go place it in a garden bed ... and reset the sod ... and bobs your uncle ...

ken

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Comments (8)

fizgig777 ╰⊰❀ Z7a ❀⊱╮
8 years ago
White Rain Lilies (Zephranthes candida) maybe?
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Or perhaps Zephranthes atramasco?
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bossyvossy
8 years ago
I vote z candida, so lovely!
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Cliff Pruitt
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all for the suggestions. Comparing what I have outside to the photos I looked up of both suggestions, z atramasco might be the closest of the two. z candida has petals that are too blunt and short (unless there can be a lot more variation within the species than in the photos I'm seeing). This looks pretty on target:

Zephyranthes Atamasca (Wikipedia)

So, lilies are perennial bulbs right? I gotta mow my grass eventually but can I dig it up? Move it? Will it come back? I like it! I want it to stay & be my friend! LOL
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Put a stick to mark it, mow around it and hope it spreads. A patch of them would look wonderful.
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Cliff Pruitt
Original Author
8 years ago
Hey Ken, thanks for the tips. I think I'll mark off a little area and give it time to "charge up" before digging it. I think it'd be fantastic to see if it spreads after I move it.

As to ferts & weed agents, what lawn we have we have by luck. We neither fertilize nor do anything to prevent weeds. Unfortunately I work too much to do a whole lot beyond keep it at a reasonable height. Though you can't see them in the photo, we do have some weeds mixed in, but not too bad. The yard is good enough to make the front of the house look nice. Thanks for making me feel good about my lawn!
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
i was a prior suburban lawn warrior ...

then i moved to the country and 5 acres .. and now i call it a meadow... the only thing that stays green in july and august.. is the weeds .. lol ..

ken

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