Name That Plant!Growing from Seed Perennials

Weeds or astilbe seedlings?

last year

last modified: last year

I've had astilbe for around 10 years, and used to both mulch and pull weeds a bit too well, hence never noticed any astilbe seedlings until about 2-3 years ago. I think I remember what the seedlings looked like when they first popped up, and I remember them growing very slowly, in the shade. Right now, however, I have a bunch of somethings popping up all over the astilbe area, and the ones in part-sun have grown very quickly and look too big to me to be astilbe seedlings...but I'm not sure. Hence, I pulled out 18 of them when I was leaning towards them being weeds, and then felt bad when I noticed that they're "hairy" like my mature astilbe and might indeed be astilbe seedlings. Didn't take any pics of the ones I already pulled out, but here are pics of a few I missed. Some of these are growing in a dry area under evergreens, while others are in part-sun that's being watered. Apologies for the long story, but I'd appreciate it tons if anyone could tell me what these might be!

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

last year

You have several different species there. The large one ided as either PI or Ampelopsis can come out. It is 100% not Astilbe. Many of the others show prickles, especially the one you pulled up. The penultimate one looks more like a strawberry or strawberry-like eg Waldsteinia. Some could be Astilbe. It’s tricky because all these plants (except the ”PI”) are in the same family, Rosaceae, so similarity is to be expected. I think you’re just going to have to wait.

Comments (14)

Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Pics

Two or three here (the one on the right is two in one spot, if I recall).

This one's growing right in front of an astilbe Delft Lace (brown edges). The solid green is the mystery seedling, which is a recently sprouted one yet looks big already.

Several here.
callirhoe123
last year
Seedling in the foreground of picture#3 looks like poison ivy.
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a) thanked callirhoe123
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
I don’t think so. All except no. 3 look like Rubus seedlings ie brambles of some kind. No 2 definitely is. No 3 perhaps Ampelopsis arborea? Or box elder.
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a) thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
Wow, you guys are quick and good!! Many thanks! These pics were taken 6 days ago and I'll plan to take new ones later on today in case that there are significant changes. Some I have noticed are starting to divide that solid leaf into 3-leaf. Now, where the heck did all of these come from?? I'm puzzled because of the number of them. Like I said this flowerbed is mostly astilbe with some new salvias (which I knew these seedlings aren't), a peony, roses, yarrows, primulas, and not much else anywhere near them. We don't have any berry bushes of any kind, although I don't know what the neighbors might be growing. I did order primula seedlings twice from an ebay seller which I sprinkled between the rose and the astilbe, and the few seedlings I did get from at least one of those orders are in the astilbe area too. I'm wondering if maybe one of the two orders contained something else (berry seeds per your ID)! Only other thing I can think of is that I do go to the park every once in a while and might have tracked some wild seeds on shoes/clothing, although I generally wear different shoes and clothing when I'm doing anything in the flowerbed.
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
Forgot to ask, does anyone know where I can find pics of astilbe seedlings, preferably at different ages/stages? Like I mentioned previously, I think I know what they look like when they first pop up, but I don't remember what they look like after that, before becoming the mature-looking astilbe foliage. Wish I'd taken pics during the first year the two astilbe seedlings I do have were growing! Those just bloomed for the first time this year and are already too old to compare. I've not been able to find much from Google or Houzz searches (but it appears that some old Houzz pics may not be visible anymore even though there may be old seedling discussions). Many thanks for any leads <3
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
last modified: last year
Rubus, PI and Ampelopsis would all arrive in bird droppings and could have come from miles away. Box Elder is windborne. Nothing unusual about any of them arriving in a garden.
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a) thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thanks again! I find it interesting that they all arrived in the astilbe area. We have other flowerbeds nearby, and not a single one of these was in any of them.

Just realized, if that one is PI, I was "smart" enough to touch it with bare hands to look at the first set of leaves. Surprisingly no skin rash, but I have been feeling lightheaded on and off all week (took the pics when I inspected the plants about a week ago)...
callirhoe123
last year
https://www.google.com/search?q=astilbe+seedling&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS932US932&oq=astilbe++seedling&aqs=chrome.0.0i512j0i390l5j69i60.9263j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a) thanked callirhoe123
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
Thanks! Those all look big already, except for the Dave's Garden one which I did see before, and that one looks to me more like these weeds in the yard than like my two astilbe seedlings when they were babies (but then again, I'm going off of memory on that one).
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
Tonight's pics
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
A few more from tonight. One (maybe two) of these does look like astilbe to me...I'm hoping.

This looks like astilbe, I think...
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a)
Original Author
last year
Thank you again floral_uk! Most if not all of the 18 I already pulled were prickly, which at the time I thought meant they weren't astilbe...then realized that astilbe are prickly too. Most of them looked too big for brand new astilbe seedlings, but I definitely regret pulling the smaller ones. Will try to leave the rest alone (except for the PI-looking one)!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Astilbe might be slightly bristly but not as prickly as Rubus.
Kindness Matters (NE Ohio 6a) thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK