I have this (picture included) growing in my flower bed. This is our first season in the house, and therefore I have no idea what things are. It is actually rather attractive, except it is blocking a tree. It is fragrant and hs little white flower buds. I was going to dig it up and transplant it elsewhere, but then my neighbor crushed me when he said he thought it was a weed (I have been watering and pruning!?!?!). If there is anyone that can help me determine what it is, I will be greatful!! Feel free to laugh as well if I have been nurturing the weed!!!
Can't see the details very well but judging from the general appearance it resembles melilotus alba, white sweet clover. I could be very wrong on that -- is it like this plant?
I'd say yes, White Sweetclover. It's one of the things my folks collectively call "Vetch" - it's a weedy weedy weed, and if you don't want it all over your yard next season, pull it up now. Just make sure you get all the roots!
Here is another picture with possibly more detail.... That one looks similar, I'll see if I can google some more images to compare it... Thanks!!
Thanks for your help!! This plant too has been uprooted... and what a root system it had!! I hope I got it all... I feel a little silly for nurturing it, but it is very attractive when it gets 3-4 feet high!! lol
Well, it is very pretty, and it does attract bees, but it also takes over entire hills. I recall my Grandma cursing and swearing like a pirate when it invaded her garden one year.
I was sort of sad to see it go, but rather than deal with a hundred more next seaon, I dug it up and bagged it!! As far as cursing like a pirate, that was me yesterday trying to dig up and transplant a butterfly bush.... I had no idea that the roots were bigger than the bush itself!! I'm sure it was entertaining for the neighbors to watch.... AND after all the digging and root mutilation, I'll be surprised if it even survives!!
Nah - butterfly bushes are notoriously hardy. It will most probably sulk for a while, but it will be fine eventually.
Might as well cut the top down as it is just going to shrivel anyway. Deciduous shrubs seldom move well anytime while in leaf, let alone in July. Be sure to keep well watered.
The bush actually turned into 4!! They were all transplanted, and have been replanted in areas that are directly hit by the sprinkler system.. I like where they are planted now and would like for them to live, but I was not the original planter, and they were in a spot before next to my garage and just seemed misplaced (and taking over the front of my house)... If they don't make it, I wont be terribly crushed, but maybe a little disappointed... Is cutting off the tops going to cause too much trauma??
Rough & Ready Rule for normally vigorous garden plants. If you guess you have lost 50% of the roots, prune 50% off the top. In other words try & match the root & top loss. Don't forget to saturate the soil below the depth of the planting. This will drive the air out immediately adjacent to the roots. This assists the regeneration of the absorptive root hairs on the remaining roots. This will occur quite quickly (in a day or two). Don't dig the plant up again & go looking for them, they are probably too small to see :). gb
