Weed - to keep or not to keep .....

Hi all,



I've got a LOT of these growing about - they seem to shoot up and grow everywhere. Easy to pull out though (including roots) and I quite like them ... anyone know

a) what it is
b) if its one of those "for gods sake don't let it grow" weeds

Thanks!

 

Could be one of the Willow herbs or Evening Primrose?

 

Hi Tim,

Yeah, I agree with Zigs, looks like a Willowherb to me.

They're a very pretty plant with tall spires of pinky/purple flowers. They're easy to control if you deadhead the stems before they set seed, and keep pulling them if they spread too much.

The only warning I'd give is that they are part of the Fuchsia family and are a carrier of Fuchsia Rust Disease, so if you grow many Fuchsias you may want to keep them down to just one plant.

 

Thanks guys - I've googled willowherb and have to agree as I've seen loads of those flowers in the fields/woods around our house (now I know what to google for!).

 

Amonst the gardening round I took over from a friend, willowherbs are one of the most prevalent and wide-spreading of the 'easy' weeds to get rid of. They crop up all over the place, even where no willowherbs are in sight.