August 21, 2006

Curious George: Identifying Weeds. A weed in my backyard spent this summer growing an inch a day. I've googled plenty, but can't seem to find any good sites to help me figure out what it is! Can any monkeys point me in the right direction?

I've contacted a local university's agriculture department, with a special email for "weeds," but the email bounced. Does anyone have any good resources online for identifying plants, weeds, trees, etc.? I'm in the Southern US, if it helps. I took lots of pictures of the weed last weekend, before Mr. Mickey pulled it up. It had a giant root ball (sorry, no pics of the root). He said the stems weren't hollow, and the whole plant was fairly heavy.

posted by Mickey 18 years ago
  • I don't know what it is, but if any seed pods grow on it, be sure to deliver them to your neighbors.
  • This site is designed for the Northeast US, but there may be some crossover to the Southeast.
  • The units swear by this as a reference on all things garden-related. Can't help you on what it is, though. Living in an apartment, everything either grows in the fridge or tub.
  • And keep trying other ag schools in your region. Somebody's bound to answer!
  • I keep forgetting things! Every state in the US has a Cooperative Extension (usually affiliated with the state university or Farm Bureau; I know that here in New York the local offices are always eager to help folks with this sort of thing. Google " cooperative extension."
  • It could be a Physalis plant
  • These folks might know if you email/call them.
  • Are ye sure it's a weed, Mickey? Wondering if a previous owner or tenant might have planted it. The fact it grew so rapidly in such a short period of time makes me wonder if it might have sprung from a bulb rather a root ball per se.
  • I always thought it would be interesting to cultivate a botanical garden of just weeds. Some of those things look darn freaky when they get big, and could make for interesting (if itchy) exhibits.
  • I'm thinking mallow, but I'd have to have a look in the neighbour's garden to compare the leaves.
  • bees, we moved in last summer and it wasn't there - although we had a couple of sunflowers in that approximate spot. Originally when the plant sprung up, I thought, "oh, the sunflowers are back." A couple weeks later, I realized there were no blooms, and the leaves kept getting larger. It was sort of freaky to come into the kitchen each morning and see it through the window. varj, that's a great match on the leaves! TUM, thanks very much! I will try some more universities around here. koko, what's your address?
  • Old rule of thumb: do nothing to the garden of a new house for the first year, because you don't know what interesting perennials may be there. Large-leafed ornamentals, such as elephant ears, are fairly popular in home gardens, and are usually planted towards the rear of a flower bed. So I'm suspicious it wasn't a weed.
  • Sorry, Mickey, I missed your comment about being there last summer. *tosses theory into trash*
  • Marsh Flowers Here the strong mallow strikes her slimy root, Here the dull night-shade hangs her deadly fruit; On hills of dust the henbane's faded green, And pencill'd flower of sickly scent is seen; Here on its wiry stem, in rigid bloom, Grows the salt lavender that lacks perfume. At the wall's base the fiery nettle springs, With fruit globose and fierce with poison'd stings; In every chink delights the fern to grow, With glossy leaf and tawny bloom below: The few dull flowers that o'er the place are spread Partake the nature of their fenny bed. These, with our sea-weeds, rolling up and down, Form the contracted Flora of our town. -- George Crabbe
  • Probably not the best day to email the folks that kittenhead mentioned.
  • It looks like a very cool plant! Wish I could get one to grow here.
  • TUM wins! My state's Cooperative Extension had an answer for me in less than an hour. This fast growing plant has several common names such as Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree and Empress Tree. The scientific name is Paulownia tomentosa. Paulownia trees are native to China and have become naturalized in the United States. The tree is named for Anna Paulowna (1795-1865), of Russia, who was the princess of the Netherlands. This is one of the fastest growing trees in the world. See pictures here and here. It's considered an invasive pest plant in my state.
  • Sorry you got invaded! I really like Paulownia flowers; they're very pretty. (Also, the first chapter of The Tale Of Genji is called "In The Paulownia Court.")
  • Holy cow! According to the first site that you cite, Mickey, it can grow up to 15 feet in one season! Invasive indeed. They are beautiful flowers, though.
  • Gorgeous flowers indeed, and we thought about moving it to a corner of the backyard away from the house, but at full height it would look ridiculous in proportion with everyone else's landscaping. And at this rate, we'd have a Princess Tree Forest by next summer. Actually, I rather like the sound of that: "Princess Tree Forest." I'm off to buy my ball gown and glitter. Tea will be served at four o'clock, on a cozy little table under the cool shade of the Princess Tree.
  • Will there be cucumber sandwiches?
  • *wants the crusts cut off his*
  • *dons gown and white gloves in expectation of invitation
  • I've read (somewhere in Lafcadio's Hearn's work?) that the wood of the paulownia was greatly prized by the Japanese because it could be made into chests that were resistant to fire, and inside which important documents and valuables were stored. This was no small consideration back in the days when Japanese houses were far flimsier and more combustable (hopefully) than they are today.
  • Looks familiar.
  • Oops. Combustible. Curses!
  • comestible?
  • Mmmm, Cherries Jubilee - combustible comestibles!