My husband and I found several of these plants growing in between our veggie rows, we decided to just leave them and see what they would do. The leaves just didn't appear to us as 'weeds'.
The roots seem to be very shallow. I potted a couple up wondering if I could move them into the flower gardens. One of the plants disliked being potted up a lot. The ground between the veggie rows stays pretty moist while it's in full sun.
Any ideas?
Although my husband was stung four times by yellow jackets Saturday. A sting on each hand, one behind the ear and one on the stomach. I am Thankful that the ice and benadryl kept the reaction to a minimum.
23 comments:
I recognized it as we sometimes use it in small ponds in the north... the following is from the web...
I suspect that it is an invasive in Florida... Larry
The native pickerelweed is a very common emersed plant that is commonly found growing in streams, marshes, ditches, ponds and lake margins nearly throughout Florida (Wunderlin, 2003). It is a prolific grower that can cover large areas. Pontederia cordata blooms from spring to summer.
Pickerelweed typically grows to about two to three feet tall. Its leaves are large, up to five inches wide, and are usually twice as long. Leaf shapes are variable, but are usually lance-shaped. The easiest way to recognize pickerelweed is by its spike of violet-blue flowers. Sometimes the flowers are white.
Thanks LC....invasive would be just my luck~
I think pickerel weed too. So sorry about your husband's stings.
You have quite the beauty of a Water Hyacinth there, a relative to the pickerelweed that LC describes. They, too, are aquatic and can become invasive. The pickerelweed is a more northern plant, whereas, the water hyacinth is found in Virginia, south to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri. They bloom year round and spread rapidly, causing clogged waterways in the south. Interesting too, is that this plant can screen heavy metals and other toxins from polluted water.
The flowers, about 2" wide and long, 6-lobed, the upper lobe larger with a conspicuous yellow spot; sepals similar to the petals; stamens 6.
Leaves 1-5" broad, roundish or kidney-shaped, bright green, shiny; inflated 'bulbs' filled with spongy, air-filled tissue that act as floats.
Height: aquatic, with flower stalk to 16" above water.
This information is out of my Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers.
Hope this helps answer which plant you have there...both are invasive and suck nutrients from your garden, so it you want them to stay, I'd suggest you put them in a water-type bed or enclosed pond, so you can control them. They ARE beautiful.
BlessYourWeek
Gee, it just gets better and better...I'll be doing the 'yank, you are out of here' method! Don't need anymore struggles with the soil around our veggies...thanks Dar!
Looks like some type of water plant to me Darla.
Sorry to hear your hubbie got stung. Ouch! Those yellow jackets are mean critters.
Looks like you got your answer. I had no idea what they are. Watch out for those yellow jackets.
I thought it looked like something that would be growing around a pond too. It looks pretty to me! Sorry about those nasty old yellowjackets. I hope your husband is feeling better!
Glad you got your answer on the plant ID. It does have a very pretty bloom and would do well in a contained pond.
Be careful with those yellow jackets. I kept getting stung (and they are REALLY stingers!) around one area of the garden but couldn't see a nest of any kind. Well, 6 months later, they were swarming and we discovered an UNDERGROUND nest that was huge. The opening to the nest was just a little hole. My hubby tried to take care of it himself which led to quite a disaster. A professional had to be called. It was very scary because it was so inconspicuous.
Anyway, enjoy your veggies and be careful out there.
Isn't it too bad that the invasives are so attractive! That's a really nice blue and the leaves are a wonderful shape. Dang it! Rip it out!
Yellow jacket stings sure do hurt! So sorry they are nesting in your garden.
Gail
I had Pickerlweed growing in my pond here, but it died over winter. Here they sell them as annual water garden plants. I love the flowers.
Sorry to hear about your husband's stings. We haven't seen to many yellow jackets yet, not warm enough for them I guess.
Hi Darla, sorry to hear about your husband. He will be itchy for a while.
The birds must have planted your NOID. It looks like a water plant so I'm not surprised to read the comments.
Marnie
Sometimes invasive plants can be so pretty. Looks are deceiving, hah? Hope your hubby is better now after the insect sting.
They seem to like DH these stingers.
The birds like to help plant. One year a poppie came up in my flowers and there were none any where near by that I knew about.
Patsy
Darla: Oh the joys of working outside.
Looks like you found out what your invasive plant/flower is... It's pretty though---but you are right. You don't need it!!!
Sorry about the yellow jacket stings...George got some kind of bites on his back this week (somehow, a spider (or something) got under his shirt....
Hugs,
Betsy
I see you got an answer. Too bad it is invasive because it has a pretty blue bloom to it. Those old Yellow Jackets can be so nasty. Unlike other bees it doesn't take anything to get them after you.
Well it was pretty while it lasted, I had no idea what it was, but it was pretty. I would be pulling it out too!!!
Since he was stung several times it might be good to keep some snuff, or chewing tabacco on hand, it really keeps the swelling down.
So sorry about the darn wasp stings! Youch! Your poor hubby!!!
I've no idea about your plant!!! Very pretty though!
Yes, the mystery plant is pickerel weed but it is not invasive - it is aggressive. It is a native plant in Florida, grows wild in the ditches and swampy areas. I live in North Florida and my nephew used to work for a nursery that had a license to dig them up and sell them. If you like them, I would plant them in a tub by themselves to keep them from spreading and keep the soil moist (don't let it dry out)
Guess I learned something new today. I had no idea what they were, but your readers enlightened us both.
Sorry about the stings.
Just the other day I was telling my son (who is old enought to help mow) that yellow jackets usually build nests in the ground. And if he ever ran across one and they began coming out....RUN LIKE MAD!. Because they will attack.
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