Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Calling All Gardeners: Flower or Weed??

Once again, I am calling on my knowledgeable readers to help me figure out a gardening problem. I have no idea whether these plants are weeds or flowers. And if they are flowers, what kind of flowers are they?

This is at least the second year they have sprouted up, but I don't remember planting them. If they are flowers I probably got them them from a plant exchange and I just planted them to get them in the ground without any real plan where to put them. Who knows?? I don't remember a thing about them.

The first flower/weed is probably about 3-4 feet tall, and it has these pretty purple flowers on it.



The second flower/weed is also tall. The bottom reminds me of a chive plant and the flowers shoot out of the foliate into tall white globes.

Here is a close up of the flowers.

If you have any idea what these flowers/weeds are, please let me know in the comments. Thanks for your help!

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15 comments:

  1. I don't know about #2, but the first one looks like a hollyhock.

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  2. I have no idea I'm afraid, I'm a novice gardener and can't tell the difference. They are pretty flowers though.

    Have a lovely day,
    Jade

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  3. Not sure about the first one, the second looks like Queen Anne's lace, which has a specific variety that is poisonous.

    Got a field guide?

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  4. The second flower is Queen Anne's Lace. Most people consider it a weed but some like me consider it a flower. I carried some of it in my wedding bouquet instead of Baby's breath.

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  5. I have no idea either, but it certainly sounds annoying though. Good luck.

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  6. Not sure about the color on the flower of the first. BUT I get them same thing in my yard they can get tall into a bush.. they also have the same seed pods. They are called Rose of Shannon.
    The second looks like a weed to me, but I am not sure from the pic. Looks like a queen anne's lace which is a weed.

    Sue

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  7. First one is Malva, a hollyhock relative. I've got them in my yard. They can become weeds if you let them get out of hand. They self sow and can survive the winter if your area is mild enough.

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  8. Just wanted to let you know that I gave you an award over on my blog tonight. Big Congrats!
    a Latte with Ott, A

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  9. I'm of the opinion that if you like the look of them, they are flowers, and if you don't, they are weeds;)
    Sorry I can't help with regards to type, though...

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  10. #2 looks like Queens Anne's Lace. It might be Poisen Hemlock that looks similar and is deadly but Queen Anne's Lace is much more common.
    I live in the desert and if it flowers we keep it around! My only exception is a non-native plant that is evasive and takes out everything around it.

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  11. Hi there, anonymous is right the first is Malva. The second is definitely not Queen Anne's Lace, wrong folliage. It does look like an allium relative, perhaps garlic chives (try google image).

    Please let us know if you figure it out:) There is a master gardener that usually makes The Garden Party rounds, Athena at Minerva's Gardens... maybe she'll weigh in:)

    visiting from TGP

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  12. Thank you for all of the comments. I appreciate your help. I know the 2nd flower's picture is not so good, but I agree with @Heather, the foliage of #2 reminds me of chives. I need to google to see if chives produces flowers.

    I also like @Maria Joao's advice that they are flowers if I like and weeds if I don't. The flowers on both plants are pretty, I just need to move them because the space is really crowded.

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  13. Here's my two cents:
    I agree the with the others who say the first is Malva- looks like the variety "Zebra" which I grew last year and loved but didn't make it through the winter here.

    The second is definitely not Queen Ann's Lace which has foliage that is ferny. I think Heather's right, it's Garlic Chives- I grew them once and they flowered white like that. It certainly is from the allium family whatever it is and there are some bulbs that are planted for flowers only in that family. If you crush the leaves/flowers and smell onion, you know what you've got!

    Thanks for linking to the Tuesday Garden Party and letting us all weigh in! (sorry about the picture!)

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  14. The first picture is a hollyhock. It does reseed. It is a biannual.

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  15. I agree that number two is definitely not Queen Anne's Lace. The foliage is wrong and the flowers on Queen Anne's Lace are more flat, like yarrow. The foliage and round flower head look like the allium family.

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