I was out in the woods behind my house looking for interesting plants to try in my yard, and I came across a few that I think I have correctly identified, and one that I don't know what it is. First off, I think I found some wood violets - one purple and one white.
Next I found what I think is Crow Poison...
Finally I dug up this, which looked interesting but I have no idea what it is. Anyone? Anyone?
I found all of these in shady, sandy soil.
Dennis
Last one looks like it is Geum canadense. Nice little plant with real small white flowers in the late spring.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/78483/
Thanks, Sweezel. I think you might be right. I found this page that has a picture with a closer match to the leaves on my plant. They describe it as a weed. I guess one man's weed is another man's treasure! :)
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/geuca.htm
Does anyone have any experience with how aggressive these plants are? If I plant some in my beds, am I going to regret it later?
Thanks!
Dennis
2nd one is crow poison--widely in bloom around here now too.
=)
Given moist conditions, the wood violets will spread by underground stems. Difficult to remove once established. Like a pretty version of Bermuda Grass.
Crow Poison seeds freely. It's in all the pastures around here. I've never tried to remove the bulbs to see how easy they are to pull out.
Don't know about the last one.
Geum canadense reseeds prolifically and spreads. Not recommended for fertile garden soil with regular watering unless you want to remove the seedlings when they come up. If you have a natural area you don't water or fertilize, try that. Mine are slow to take off this year because it was dry for so long, so right now they don't look much like they will later on. Wood violets don't do well where I am...they don't like the soil and I don't keep things as moist as they like, I guess...eventually they die off. Crow Poison I just leave it alone and don't put in my garden beds.
I have the wood violets in several places, they were here before me, so I have left them,and they are so pretty,mine do travel some,but I like that.
I think I will plant the wood violets in a shady bed by my shed, and plant the rest at the edge of the woods rather than in the yard. Thanks for all the advice!
Dennis
Dennis, the violets and geum make excellent ground cover, we have them at the wildscape, and they work great.
Josephine.
I'm thinking of planting the geum in a pot with inland seaoats. Any guesses about whether or not they would coexist peacefully? :)
Dennis
You will need a big pot, but it could work.
Innocently, I planted the violets some 40 years ago. Although they are pretty, they soon become a nuisance. Not only do they come up everywhere, by seed and by lateral roots they will choke out everything else. I have purchased herbicides strictly for the violets. As someone said, much like bermuda grass, and that is what killed off my veggie garden some years ago. More in the class of an invasive weed in my experience. Pretty but at a high price.
Christi
There are some things I prefer to admire from a distance and the violet is one of them.
You guys talked me into planting them at the edge of the woods rather than in my beds! I can still enjoy them, but it gives me a 30 foot or so buffer between them and my yard. Hopefully that is enough. :)
Dennis
If not, just buy one of those new flame throwers...lol. About the only thing that might control them.
C
Guys, I have them planted on the north side of my house with no problem, but it is shady and we walk on that area a lot.
Are there any particularly fun plants I should look for in the woods? I could have a scavenger hunt!
Dennis
I went on a nature walk here in Arlington and found, Standing Cypress, Woolly white,
Camphor weed, Yucca, and many others including Flameleaf sumac.
There is a lot to be found and enjoyed out there.
