Weeds

[amber]

Are all weeds bad? What are beautiful weeds that you can leave growing in your garden?

[fleurdelys]

In my opinion, weeds aren't necessarily bad. I think they're thought of that way because they're hardy plants and survive even in the worst conditions. They also tend to suck the nutrients out of the plants you do want to tend & grow in your garden, hence they became thought of as intrusive plants.

In fact, I think weeds are nothing but wildflowers, plants that grow naturally in an area. I for one find plenty of lovely "weeds" growing around the neighborhood.

[dandelion]

Dandelions here..

These are weeds but they are beneficial also because they attract ladybugs that eat pest aphids in your garden. It has also been studied that dandelions are rich in Vitamin A, C and beta carotene. These weeds are good herbal medicines too. They are used as a remedy for warts.

[Luna]

I once attended a garden lecture where the speaker (sorry, his name escapes me as of this moment) said that weeds are actually wildflowers. fleurdelys said it well, that they're native plants growing profusely in an area. Some can grow rampant, while others can grow in a rather "orderly" way that will bring beauty to your garden.

There's also what is called "beneficial weeds", or plants that have a sort of companion plant effect on other plants. These are normally plants that aren't domestically grown but occur naturally in the area, for most part. Many attract parasites from other crops thus saving the plants you actually want to keep on growing, also mentioned by dandelion.

[cosmic_girl]

Here's a few plants that grow naturally in my garden: Milkweed (also a home to the monarch butterfly), Goldenrod, Black-eyed Susan and Heliopsis.

I also remember seeing pepper plants growing in random places around the house. My father said those may be seeds that he threw around that grew on their own, but I don't think they clarify as weeds

[sakura]

I agree. Weeds aren't necessarily bad plants. They just happen to be plants you don't want growing but they do anyway

They do have some benefits. Weeds hold together topsoil, while certain growing plants can help you identify the condition of your soil.

Here's an article written back in 1987 by Susan Sides about good weeds.. It's quite informative especially about the various types of "weeds" that help you check on your soil's condition.

[beezybody]

In horticulture or agronomy, weeds are plants which grow in your garden which you have not planted.

[fleurdelys]

Exactly. As mentioned, weeds are but native plants that are best adapted to the environment where they grow. They can be controlled, however, so that even if they grow wild, they'll look nice and more pleasing.

It's also interesting to know that these so called weeds have medicinal purposes. I have dandelions growing in my garden, as well as aloe vera and lavender, which were all there when I moved in. It's just a matter of trimming them so that they don't really spread out and take over the other garden plants.

[starcandy]

There's actaully some edible weeds.

1. Dandelions of course, have been discussed in other threads. It's completely edible, often used in salads. They can be added to soups and used to make wine. It also acts as diuretics.

2. Plantains are low growing plants with broad leaves, with their flowers tightly clustered on an upright stem. It's not related to the banana plantain, which was what first popped to mind. It's commonly used in salads, soups and teas, and on the medicinal side, it's used to help asthma, curb smoking urges and bladder problems, as well as having anti-bacterial properties.

3. Chickweed is small and a weed that's rather difficult to control. It's known to have strong laxative properties and is used mostly in salads or sandwiches.

4. Burdock is probably not common in the urban landscape but more so in the countryside. It's said to have blood purifying properties. Japanese Burdock is said to have an oyster-like taste.

5. Purslane is a low growing succulent that has small thick leaves on a reddish stem that often crawls along the ground. It's high in Omega 3, while the stems are full of Vitamin C.

6. Stinging nettles are pretty much a surprise. If you touch the plant you get an itchy rash, but cooking it or drying it removes that effect. It's often used to make teas and is noted for their high iron content in the stems.

[arianne]

Oh wow. I was just looking at some sites earlier about this. Well, edible weeds, actually. Here's some of the stuff I found, but right now, I caution you all to do a bit more research. What I've found may not be very in-depth.

Japanese knotweed is very invasive, grows really fast and has a huge root system that travels under foundations, making it hard to get rid off. It's more edible when its grown, and recipe wise, is treated much like rhubarb. Not sure I want to taste it though. Japanese knotweed is also said to be high in vitamin C.

Purslane is a plant that would grow wild in my neighborhood, but I never paid much attention to it. It's a succulent herb, and is said to be high in Omega-3.

[cosmic_girl]

How would you differential weeds from wildflowers?

Since we're on the topic of edible weeds, here's my two cents. I have chicory (the roots make a great coffee additive) and the flowers I add to salads.

Garlic mustard adds a mild garlic flavor to sandwiches, soups or salads. Great if you love the taste but hate to overpower other flavors.

Burdock is also known as gobo in Japan, where it's actually grown as a vegetable. The stalks are scraped and cooked just like celery, while the roots can be eaten raw in salads or used in stir fry.

Oh, and if you're really serious about edible weeds, I suggest this book, "Handbook of Edible Weeds" by James A. Duke.

[starcandy]

Originally Posted by cosmic_girl

How would you differential weeds from wildflowers?

Weeds vs. wildflowers? Well, I guess when you look at it, there's not much difference, except that most people tend to leave wildflowers alone rather than pull them out. Still, on the basis that they both grow on their own and aren't often cultivated and need little maintenance, they're essentially the same.

[sakura]

Here's an nice chart of flowering weeds. It's got pictures of when they're seedlings and when they're in bloom, so you'll know what they look like and you can pull them up if you wish.

Weeds - Red, Pink, Purple, Blue

This site is a rather intensive one, listing various families and samples of wildflowers and weeds. Looking further, a lot of them crossover to the regular plants that many people keep. Interesting.

Plant Families Photo Gallery: Wild Flower Identification Tools

[dandelion]

One of my favorite weeds is the Mimosa Pudica or the sensitive plant. I will never forget my childhood everytime I see those around. My cousins and I used to enjoy touching all the leaves until none of them are still open.

[fleurdelys]

^ Oh I know those plants! Haha, they're really interesting. I like their pink flowers too, but if you're not careful, their thorns can prick you.

On weeds vs. wildflowers, I found this quote "One person's weed is another's wildflower." Basically it means that a person's perception on what classifies as a weed or a wildflower makes this discussion more interesting.

I think it'll depend on how the plant affects the area around it. If it poses a threat to an area's native ecosystem, livestock or is invasive in any means, I'd consider it a weed. Some places have weed ordinances which you can probably ask about.

[Luna]

Here's something interesting:

It has been said that a weed is simply a plant that wants to grow where people want something else. In blaming nature, people mistake the culprit. Weeds are people's idea, not nature's
- Doug Oster, Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Makes sense to me