Not seen before in my garden - Ask Extension
Hi there, I live in Montpelier and have gardens that contain 90% perennials with a few annuals. I notice quickly when something that I did not plant ...
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Not seen before in my garden #868627
Asked May 15, 2024, 7:34 PM EDT
Hi there, I live in Montpelier and have gardens that contain 90% perennials with a few annuals. I notice quickly when something that I did not plant arrives. I noted about 1 week ago a small patch of a new growing plants (seedlings) in a shady moist area. I did not plant them but don’t want to pull them up if a bird pooped out some seeds and it would be a cool plant. They are light green and I have attached a few photos of them. I don’t see these in any of my other gardens and this is the only spot they are in. Thanks for your help. The last photo is a far away shot where these new seedlings are next to gone by spring bulb flowers and there is miniature hollyhock to the left.
Washington County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Joslyn, and thank you for contacting us at the UVM Extension Master Gardener program with your question.
How fabulous that you have an established perennial garden, yet welcome the possible addition of natives to your beds! I have several apple, crab apple, elderberry trees in my landscape that were planted in perfect spots by the birds.
In this case, you likely don't want to keep the new arrivals.
From the photos you shared, it looks like these could be new sprouts of common hemp nettle, or Galeopsis tetrahit, which is considered an invasive in some northern states, though not yet a major problem in Vermont. (Are the stems bristly, as in the photo from the UMass Amherst link below?)
From our research, you should be able to pull it up and even compost it as long as it has not yet flowered or gone to seed. It is an annual, so if new to your garden it should not be a long-term challenge in your perennial beds.
Please note that all nettles can be a skin irritant, so working with gloves and long sleeves is always a good idea.
Here are a few other resources to help confirm this preliminary identification:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/brittlestem-hemp-nettle
https://extension.umass.edu/weed-herbarium/weeds/galeopsis-tetrahit
If you don't think this info matches what you see in your garden, feel free to send more photos and we'll continue more research with you.
Best of luck with your perennial gardens!
How fabulous that you have an established perennial garden, yet welcome the possible addition of natives to your beds! I have several apple, crab apple, elderberry trees in my landscape that were planted in perfect spots by the birds.
In this case, you likely don't want to keep the new arrivals.
From the photos you shared, it looks like these could be new sprouts of common hemp nettle, or Galeopsis tetrahit, which is considered an invasive in some northern states, though not yet a major problem in Vermont. (Are the stems bristly, as in the photo from the UMass Amherst link below?)
From our research, you should be able to pull it up and even compost it as long as it has not yet flowered or gone to seed. It is an annual, so if new to your garden it should not be a long-term challenge in your perennial beds.
Please note that all nettles can be a skin irritant, so working with gloves and long sleeves is always a good idea.
Here are a few other resources to help confirm this preliminary identification:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/brittlestem-hemp-nettle
https://extension.umass.edu/weed-herbarium/weeds/galeopsis-tetrahit
If you don't think this info matches what you see in your garden, feel free to send more photos and we'll continue more research with you.
Best of luck with your perennial gardens!
