Wild & Weedy Wednesday: Wanna-be weeds

I'm dealing with more weeds in my garden this year than I can ever remember.  I haven't made a dent in what's out there.  Summer's heat may fry some of them once our marine layer lets go of the coastal area but in the meantime I'm trying to remove all those working to set seed as best I can.  Among the true weeds are an ample number of plants I'm calling wanna-be weeds.  I haven't had many rampant self-seeders in the past, possibly because drought conditions kept the plants inclined to that under control.  This year is different.  I'm joining Cathy at Words and Herbs for another edition of her Wild and Weedy Wednesday meme.

The prime culprit is Daucus carota 'Dara', commonly known as wild carrot.  I sowed one packet of seeds in the fall of 2020 and haven't sown any since.  When the plants first appeared in 2021, I'd forgotten all about them and initially feared that I had poison hemlock growing in the garden.  The flowers are lovely and I've cut them numerous times to fill vases.  As the flowers grow smaller, I pull the plants up with their deep taproots intact.  The self-seeded plants returned in the same general area in 2022 and 2023.  This year, following a second year of heavier-than-usual rain, they've not only returned in increased numbers, they've spread to other areas of the garden as well.

Although I pulled some large "seedlings" from this area several weeks ago, I didn't realize that this one was flowering until I tried to walk through this narrow footpath behind my back border on Sunday.  I ended up cutting numerous flowers for an IAVOM arrangement.  I don't want to see a lot of seedlings taking over the path next year, or worse yet spreading to the slope beyond the hedge.

Here's what I saw from the front of the border when I thought the blooms had only just gotten started

I've discovered seedlings in various parts of the back garden, including the 3 shown here, which planted themselves in between flagstones

I've pulled the majority of the plants I've come across from other parts of the garden.  I discovered this one on the south-side of the house when I was thinning the Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima, another rampant self-seeder).  I let it stay but I'm a little afraid I'll regret that decision later.

I planted a single four-inch pot of Cotula lineariloba (aka big yellow moon and brass buttons) in 2014.  After it took over a large area, I pulled it out, or at least thought I had.  When it showed up again in discrete patches following a period of drought, I added three plants in 2022.  Well, it's returned to its weedy ways.

Boosted by the rain, seedlings like the one on the left have popped up in between flagstones in the back garden.  It's also extended the space it occupies in the bed surrounding our backyard fountain (right), climbing around - and over - Gazanias and other plants.

I planted Gaura lindheimeri (aka bee blossom, and now apparently classified as Oenothera lindheimeri) in or around 2014.  It's spread itself around ever since, albeit mostly in adjacent areas.  My only complaint about it is that the plants are difficult to impossible to eradicate once established.

Oenothera lindheimeri is almost as weedy as its cousin, Oenothera speciosa.  Both have pretty flowers, though.

I sowed seeds of Lagurus ovatus (aka bunny tail grass) in one small area on the south side of the house about four years ago.  I've been delighted with the flowers, which live up to their common name.  I've used them in many vases, including dry arrangements where they last for years.  They moved around a bit during the following years but this year they've spread more widely.

They look lovely in the area shown above but they've crept eastward into my south-side succulent bed this year.  I pull them out as I find them but I'm guessing that trend may continue.

Finally, there's Polygala myrtifolia (aka sweet pea bush).  It's a tough plant and I've used it in both my front and back gardens.  It self-seeded in bit in both areas in prior years but it's gone to town this year.

Its seedlings start out small but quickly form clumps.  I'd entirely missed these little clumps until I started taking photos this week.  They'd taken over a narrow area between an ornamental grass (Festuca californica) and a shrub (Pittosporum tobira 'Variegata').

These photos show clumps of Polygala myrtifolia in the back (left) and front (right) gardens.  Most or all of those in these photos seeded themselves there over the past year.  (A few pink evening primrose, Oenothera speciosa, have snuck into the area shown on the right.)

Do you have any rampant self-seeders?  If so, do you treat them as gifts or nuisances?

For more wildflowers, including weedy types, visit Cathy at Words and Herbs.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party