Are these Valerian seedlings?

Hi

In my nascent butterfly garden I recently planted some Valerian seeds in one area. Nothing is coming up in that area but in a couple of other areas I have lots of something which do resemble a bit the Red Valerian leaves I see on plants already established elsewhere in the garden.

Are these Valerian or something completely different?

thanks
Gavin.

 

Hi Gavin,

No, what you've got there is an Opium Poppy, Papava Somniferum

 

Interesting! I did sow some poppy seeds but not in that part of the garden and nothing is coming up where the poppies should be! Guess they blew away.

thanks ziggy

regards
Gavin.

 

My pleasure Gavin,

The seed can lie dormant for 50 years or more. They evolved to take advantages of landslip & will be one of the first colonisers of bare ground, along with Fat Hen (Chenopodium)

Chances are that you didn't sow the ones coming up & that your sowings will come up next time you disturb the ground.

 

It's interesting they've only come up big-time in 2 beds where I'd sown Honesty (some honesty have come up) and Garlic mustard (complete failure!). Elsewhere in other beds or on the paths there are none. Anyway I've weeded them out of the honesty and left them in the garlic mustard space given nothing else is happening there!

thanks again ziggy

regards
Gavin.

 

It's interesting that you are planting Honesty.

Up here everyone treats them as a weed and digs them up.

Personally I leave a couple in obscure areas for the colour, but probsbly remove quite a number each year from all over the garden.

I think its a bonny plant when in flower.

 

Just weeded out some Honesty but left the Opium Poppies for Ron:WINK1:

 

ive got some aswell i cant wait to see what their like,ive put that many seeds everywhere for the last 2 yrs its a waiting game for me plus since 1998 my oh has so if they can lay dormant for so long god knows what could sprout :happydance: x

 

I've also left some for later ron:



They didn't want to germinate where they sere sown 2 years ago, but put shovel that soil with the seeds in into a raised bed and suddenly they want to compete with my leek and spring onion seedlings. So there they will stay until I've got some seeds for breadmaking.

 

I put the honesty in as I'd read they were great for butterflies, but I'll keep an eye out for them spreading. Is it just that they spread that makes them treated as weeds in some parts?

thanks
Gavin.

 

Thanks again Marley