What is this rampant plant?

FarmerTuley 12/12/2011, 12:49 pm

This thing is everywhere in my garden. At first I thought it was purslane but it grows much differently. It has a purple underside that turns green once established. Little seed pods grow quite quickly and it is a fast reproducer.

It completely overtook my broccoli bed.
What is this rampant plant? Img_0416

Also, I have a spiked plant I am unsure of as well. It has spikes on the leaves, spikes on the stem, spikes everywhere.
What is this rampant plant? Img_0417

Here is another shot.
What is this rampant plant? Img_0514

I would love some help on these. Thanks!

Farmer Tuley

martha 12/12/2011, 12:56 pm

Oh, oh! That spiked thing with the purple flowers grows through concrete here in Massachusetts! I don't remember what it is called, but get rid of it as much and quickly as you can!

The other one sure does look like trouble - I don't know what it is. It's either too young or too Texan for me to recognize it.

Good luck!

Luci Dawson 12/12/2011, 8:20 pm

martha wrote:Oh, oh! That spiked thing with the purple flowers grows through concrete here in Massachusetts! I don't remember what it is called, but get rid of it as much and quickly as you can!

The other one sure does look like trouble - I don't know what it is. It's either too young or too Texan for me to recognize it.

Good luck!

In NM we call that purple spiky plant "horse nettle" and it's abominable. Try to get at that PRONTO bcz it has a tenacious tap root that will continue to grow if you don't get it ALL out of the ground.

FarmerTuley 12/14/2011, 4:20 pm

In NM we call that purple spiky plant "horse nettle" and it's
abominable. Try to get at that PRONTO bcz it has a tenacious tap root
that will continue to grow if you don't get it ALL out of the ground.

I think you are right about it being horse-nettle. I am going to have to get my leather gloves and start yanking them out fast.

Oh and I figured out what the other one was. It is called Amarenth spp. It can either be a weed (a plant out of place) or in the case of my mother-in-law who is allergic to gluten, a source of alternative flour (something akin to quinoa)

Sponsored content

What is this rampant plant?

What is this rampant plant?

Re: What is this rampant plant?

Re: What is this rampant plant?

Re: What is this rampant plant?

Re: What is this rampant plant?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.