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What is this new weed/plant showing up in my garden?

2 years ago

This is my fifth summer in this house, and I have a lot of this sprouting up in places I know it wasn’t in last year. I don’t recall seeing it in other areas of my gardens before, but its possible some has been there but in much lower quantities.

zone 4, Minnesota

It doesn’t look like my phlox (which has reseeded in other areas). It’s shiny-er and different than my creeping bellflower that I’m trying to get killed out of the area. I had a white ballonflower nearby two years ago but I thought it was a tiny struggling plant and I would be surprised if it was able to seed like this?

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Comments (8)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
What size are the leaves? Are the plants connected by running roots? Have you ever grown Physalis alkekengi?
engrgirl
Original Author
2 years ago
The leaves are 1.5 inches wide x 2.5 inches long (approx 40mm x 65mm). The roots appear to grow sideways approx 3 inches (70mm) under the dirt. The ones I dug broke off at the root so I don’t know for certain but I think they do join to other plants. It doesn’t have the square stem or smell like monarda. I haven’t grown physalis alkekengi, but it’s possible a tiny root could have come in on a plant trade (or seed from birds, etc).
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arbordave (SE MI)
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Looks like Enchanter's Nightshade. I have a lot of it in my backyard. It is very weedy and hard to control, and in late summer/fall its seeds stick to your clothing (and your pets).
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
It looks a lot like the Campanula Rapunculoides that I have in one concrete bounded area.

It is a prolific seeder, as well as spreading by the roots - if I didn't keep it deadheaded, and it weren't confined by the concrete, it would be all over.

I keep it because it is pretty and blooms all season, but it isn't something that I recommend to anyone else. It is considered a noxious invasive in many areas. Information

Get rid of it now I would say!

ETA: I overlooked that you already have identified creeping bellflower, but this new one still shares the characteristics: purple stem at the base, sideways running root, heart shaped leaves with stems in the early growth. Really does look like mine!
engrgirl
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you all for the comments. It might be Enchanters Nightshade, I feel like I’ve seen a few of those burrs around, but it is shocking how it went from not many to so many nee plants this year! I don’t think it’s Campanula Rapunculoides- i know I have that in other areas and I’m in a war trying to get rid of it, but those leaves as not a shiny and don’t have pairs on each side of the stem like this mystery plant does.

Is it safe to say it isn’t balloonflower (or anything else “good”) and I should pull it all out?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Enchanters Nightshade was one of my original thoughts. Seeing the root and the stem joints makes that more likely. But the leaves seem large. Maybe yours is lusher than what I see here. It’s a menace.
engrgirl
Original Author
2 years ago
Ok thank you everyone- I pulled it out, or at least most of it I think!
arbordave (SE MI)
2 years ago
I've found it's almost impossible to get all the roots, seems like I'm fighting a losing battle :(

Here's a patch of it under my viburnums (a few jewelweeds in there too):

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