Weed or plant

Question

I have two groupings of these and I'm not sure what they are. I don't see any buds yet. Weed or flower?? Anyone recognize them?

Gayle Valverde · Answer

They look like Snapdragon foliage to me...did you ever plant them in/near these spots???

Jayme Renee · Answer

I actually inherited this Garden from my father who passed away so I'm just learning about all this gardening stuff !! So I'm not sure if he planted them or not but they are two nice groupings so I assume he did.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

My guess is Garden Phlox ( Phlox paniculata) it should form some beautiful flowers if so, they come in a lot of colors.

Lula · Answer

possibly pineapple sage, too although it's an annual in zones 5-7.

Douglas Hunt · Answer

I'm with Donna. If you have just inherited this garden you won't know the answer to this, but if powdery mildew has been a problem with those, you may want to thin them out a little to open the plant up and allow for better air circulation.

Heather (New House New Home) · Answer

I'm also with Donna on this one - phlox. So you should start seeing some buds at the top pretty soon. I wouldn't pull anything out this year as you never know what you're dealing with. Unless you know FOR SURE that it's a weed, you may have some nice surprises awaiting you.

Catherine Smith · Answer

And I would suggest you take some additional before and after pictures, so you have a record of what lovely items you have inherited. :)

Peg · Answer

It looks more like one of the wild phlox types (there are a few) which I have opposed to the tall garden phlox which has wider leaves. Post a pic when it blooms! I'd be curious to know if it has a blue blower.

Jayme Renee · Answer

Thanks everyone! 
I have noticed a powdery substance next to the base of the plant that will almost like smoke when it gets water on it... Can I thin them out at anytime? I'm in zone 4.

I learned my lesson on pulling what I thought were weeds as I pulled out a very mature low walker catmint plant... luckily my aunt noticed it in my 'dump' pile and I was able to replant it before it died. I can just see my dad shaking his head at me from heaven - Yelling at me to stay away from his garden. haha. :)

Cheryl Thornburg Sander · Answer

I can't tell how big the foliage is, but smell it. It really looks a lot like Rosemary.

Yvonne B · Answer

Or it could be Sweet William (dianthus barbatus) http://janinemudge.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/sweetwilliam-from-gardensablaze.jpg If so it could be a heirloom flower handed down from generation to generation..

Yvonne B · Answer

Please post a picture when (what ever it is) it flowers. I would love to see what it is going to be.

Jayme Renee · Answer

I will for sure. Beinga runner for years you would think I've learned the art of patience... but thisgardening stuff is killing me!! I get so excited it's hard to wait for them tobloom. He has 4 sections of Clematis on this fence that just bloomed this week.That was so worth the wait. What a beautiful sight. My dad would be very happyI haven't killed those yet. I attempting to prune them a bit this spring andmade myself stop as I had NO idea what I was doing. Haha.

Luella Eirsdottir · Answer

My dad would tell you that the difference between a plant & a weed is that you like the one and not the other or, if you pull them and they come up easy, they're a plant. Weeds pull harder. lol I'd wait until they bloom and, if you like them, keep them.

Tara Beamer · Answer

I also inherited a garden. The house we bought had been vacant for awhile but the last owner was a gardener. We have been here 6 years and I still have much of what was here to begin with. It also helps that I now work in a greenhouse LOL!

Linda R · Answer

I think they might be asters.

Judy · Answer

I've never grown Phlox but I have Dianthus & also Michaelmas Daisies which are a type of Aster & bloom later in the year. So if they don't flower this month or next don't despair & dig them out...you just might have a nice Autumn surprise waiting for you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michaelmas_Daisy Click on the pic below to see my Michaelmas Daisy plants.

Theresa Goodlander · Answer

....check under the ground to see if they spread by their root system.

Jayme Renee · Answer

Cool, so many suggestions. I love this site! Thanks everyone. I'll just have to have a bit more patience I guess. Can I trim them shorter? they are super tall and overshadow all my other flowers. Or should I just wait? ... more patience. Ha!

Linda R · Answer

If they are Aster's you can cut them half way back , I don't cut mine,I put a cage or old chair with seat removed around my Aster's, they are beautiful in late summer with lots of bees.

Tammie W · Answer

I think they look like Russian Tarragon. Mine look exactly like these and they are perennials. Maybe Phlox too as they do resemble these as well.

Mary Lou F · Answer

I think they are the fall blooming asters that others mentioned. Do cut them back some to make them bushier, but not too late in the season so they still have time to make buds. I love mine when they bloom.

Dawn Pietrzak Roitblat · Answer

Look like asters to me too.

Annette Keeling · Answer

They look more like Phlox, especially the leaves because snapdragon grown upward in clusters.This is a plant and not a weed, but not sure.

Luella Eirsdottir · Answer

I'd wait to cut them back, if they have flower buds. You'll lose flowers. Just use some sort of support. If they haven't set buds, go ahead and cut them back.

Maureen · Answer

I have this in my yard...I cut it back and it comes right back....I think its 'Lions Tale' mine blooms a bright orange.....

Douglas Hunt · Answer

@Jayme Renee you cannot cut the plants back or they won't bloom. They call them 'tall garden phlox' for a reason! As I mentioned above, you can cut out some of the individual stems, which will make the plant less dense and reduce the chances of developing powdery mildew.

Jayme Renee · Answer

Thanks everyone. I think I'll wait on cutting them bak until I know what they are. I will be posting posting more pics today of all the other wonderful  plants I have in my new garden.. The only one I know is the hosta. Haha. I'd love feed back on them as well. I hope to make my dad proud and keep his beautiful garden alive. And maybe grow my own Green Thumb. :)

Yvonne B · Answer

I do think Luella Eirsdottir and Douglas Hunt are right at NOT cutting them till you know what they are. Just give them some type of support to keep them from falling over onto the other plants in the garden.

Tanya Peterson Felsheim · Answer

Plant! I agree looks like asters which are late in the heat bloomers and are gorgeous! you will love them! If you cut asters back you need to do it in early spring not this late usually into the summer. If you do so early spring (which is what nurseries do) they can recover and bloom, but its a little late for them to recover and bloom at this late in the stage. Agree with @Douglas Hunt I find myself doing that a lot.... and he's probably getting a pretty big head about always being right!

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