tbryant2
Just Arrived
Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject: Tiny purplish flowers on a short stalk of leaves |
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This is coming up all over my yard (just moved here in October),it may be a weed for all I know. Can you tell me what it is and should it stay or go? Thanks!
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SongofJoy57
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Location: Foothills of North Carolina Z = 7a & 7b (Map)
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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I believe it is Ajuga aka bugleweed.
http://www.paghat.com/ajuga1.html
Here is some information that I found very interesting.
Last edited by SongofJoy57 on Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Yes that's it!!! I have some of it in my garden too. 
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/lamam.htm
http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/plants/perennial/bugleweed.html
Check out these two sites, the first shows Henbit which is a common weed that shows up in late winter. The second is Bugleweed.
The stem in your second picture appears to be square which is like the Henbit stem and the flowers cluster at the top of the stem and down the stem at each rosette of leaves. Henbit is the first thing that blooms in the yards around here, this year we have had two growths of it. It bloomed in January, dropped seeds and bloomed again in March. It is pretty much gone now and won't show up again until maybe next fall or but definitely late winter.
If the flowers are tall spires, instead of clusters at the end and along the stem, it may be Bugleweed.
Bugleweed's normal bloom time is May - June, it might still be a little cool in Ohio for Bugleweed.
If it is Henbit, it can be invasive in flower beds but I like the looks of it in the yard before the grass greensup. If you want to try to get rid of it, now is too late. You need to use a pre-emergent on it in the fall.
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"Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909)
"A little Madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
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tbryant2
Just Arrived
Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, it looks identical to the Purple Deadnettle which is in the picture with the Henbit! I think that's it! So this is something I want to get rid of? Thanks so much for you help.
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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Purple Deadnettle is another name for Henbit, I just have always known it as Henbit and really like it.
Some say yes, it's a weed so it must be yanked up or killed and some say why bother.
So I guess it depends on whether you like the look of it, which I do so I leave it alone.
It has a relatively short life span compared to most weeds, warm weather kills it, it doesn't grow back once it has been mowed down, pulls up out of flower beds very easily as opposed to weeds with massive root systems and in late winter is usually the only color you will see in your yard.
_________________
"Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909)
"A little Madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
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EJ
Allotmenteer Extraordinaire
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Essex
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5a
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with Toni! It looks like Henbit.
I believe that Ajuga's bloom stems are squarish and nettle is round. 
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