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Name That Plant!

Can you name this plant?

5 years ago

Hi.

This plant has been growing all summer in our backyard, in a tiny pile of soil that was left from the soil, we had delivered this spring. Our 13yr old daughter loves it! She asked us to please not mow it down. We didn't, of course. Our daughter has developed a love of all things plants, and if this plant brings her joy, so be it. It's starting to break down now though, because of the frosts/freezes we've had.

She says it's too pretty to be a weed. I told her I would ask on here, but to be prepared that it is indeed a weed. lol Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Here's a closer view of the leaves.

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Comments (3)

carol23_gw
5 years ago
Perhaps a Brassica ( or something else in the mustard family )
ilovemytrees thanked carol23_gw
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years ago
I agree with Carol that it looks like something in the mustard family. Are there any flower buds or did it flower at any point this summer?

In my experience there are many weedy mustard family plants, but at the same time, anything that encourages a love of plants in young people is good. If it didn’t flower this season, it likely will next, and so you may get an ID then if you add a flower photo.
ilovemytrees thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
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This is emerging Monarda. Do you think that the stems on these would be as thin, and as dark purple as the OP's plant when they grow another inch or two, like in the photo? Cunila oreganoides is also a mint so if you're going to do a smell test to tell the two species apart what smell will you be looking for? Well, Monarda smells minty with a spicy note and Cunila has a very sweet pleasant, strong minty smell. If you have already smelled Monarda , you should notice the difference. Cunila blooms in autumn after all the Monarda species are finished blooming. Yes, we should wait and see. https://www.google.com/search?q=cunila+origanoides+leaf&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjox-SW8e3vAhUMYawKHf9mDsYQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=cunila+origanoides+leaf&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQAzIECCMQJzoECAAQGDoECAAQHlDWtAFYtcsBYJDTAWgAcAB4AIABrwGIAYUGkgEDMS41mAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=ZpBuYOj8AozCsQX_zbmwDA&bih=563&biw=320&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=mivn
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
i am surprised to see that they can be perennial [the old zone thing...] ... though short lived at best ..... brief search states some are to -15 .... i bet you can beat that low winter temp ...

other resources suggest you can use some in the family as deer food ...

i still wouldnt call it a shrub ....

and of course ... you know i raised my little dirt devils out in the garden ... all dirty thumbs up for encouraging such ... but part of the lesson is things that need to be removed.. for various reasons .... its your choice on this one .... i dont have any personal hatred for this one ...

ken
ilovemytrees thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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