Early in the summer I planted some Cherry Tomato, Basil and some sort of Chilli seeds. I recognise the tomato plants, but what is this one? I can not ID it under any chilli sites. Thank you.
Looks like Ailanthus altissima. Common name Tree of Heaven. Get rid of it ASAP. It grows huge, also suckers , and is very difficult to get rid of when bigger.
TY Luddite...I think you are right. I just don't know how it got there. The soil was new and the only seeds I put there were....(supposedly) the tomato, basil and chilli. Seems only the tomatoes have sprung.
Wow! What a great forum -- I joined only @20 minutes ago and your post/photo is much like one of my dilemmas. I wonder if mine (yours?) could be Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac) or Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape) -- I can't tell them apart using small web photos. I brought some unknown mahonia seeds to WA (from California neighbor's) and planted them rather than toss them. Except - whatever mine is - survived the winter and grew 4+ feet this year. Mine has reddish ribs/stems and peach-fuzz bark (probably the Sumac); no flowers/seeds yet seen. Ailanthus altissima is listed as with flowers and/or seeds pods -- does your plant have either/both?
TownMouse, my plant was actually only 5 inches high a month ago....suddenly soared. It has no flower or seeds as yet. After the info I have received here, I opened my eyes and have seen whole trees of this genus in my area. But your suggestion, Staghorn looks very similar to my novice eyes....I don't know....?!
TownMouse, your plant is completely different from the Ailanthus. Note that yours have different edges to the leaves. Swans500 clearly show the small gland on the leaf, which enables an accurate id. You would not expect to see flowers on such a young tree. Neither is your plant Mahonia.Mahonia have very spiney/prickley leaf edges.
Swans500 pic shows the gland typical of Ailanthus. My 2nd pic shows a Mahonia. TownMouse yours looks like a Rhus.See ..... http://images.google.com/imgres?img...microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7SUNA&sa=N
'Gland': good grief! I wrongly thought I had some knowledge of plants. Shall go study this term and reevaluate the 'stuff' in my garden. Thank you so much for sharing, for not talking down, for not using back-fence terminolgy. So much to learn!
