Need help to ID this invasive plant

[Deerthug]

My neighbor's yard is starting to get full of these plants. The house is vacant now for 3 months but its under contract. I am seeing it pop up in between my hostas along the property line and even in part of my lawn. I don't know what it is and I want to get rid of it.

[SplitG2]

does it have purple flowers?

[Deerthug]

does it have purple flowers?

Yes it did when it was full bloom earlier this spring

[Doc]

I believe you have what is called "purple loodestrife". And yes you are absolutely correct to call it invasive...... it sure is that!

[landtracdeerhunter]

Yep, been chopping away at this plant for years. The stems are as hard as brush. Just when you think it's gone, it shows up somewhere else.

[Dom]

My wife said they look like hollyhocks,she had them at her old house.No known way to get rid of.

[Deerthug]

Thanks for the input guys. I've been using my weedeater on it but they are tough as heck. Causes the heavy duty string I use in it to break off often. Now that I know what it is I can do some research on how to remove it.

[SplitG2]

purple loosestrife i believe.

[Dom]

I believe you have what is called "purple loodestrife". And yes you are absolutely correct to call it invasive...... it sure is that!

If what i read about this plant is correct than it is good for controling diarea and other alements.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Found some on the side of the barn. Doesn't seem to be doing well here this year. Anyways, make a great camp fire starter when dried.

[5.9cummins]

My neighbor's yard is starting to get full of these plants. The house is vacant now for 3 months but its under contract. I am seeing it pop up in between my hostas along the property line and even in part of my lawn. I don't know what it is and I want to get rid of it.

Deer thug that's not loosestrife. It escapes me at the moment but it will come back at some point. If you have a close up photo it would help with ID.

Found some on the side of the barn. Doesn't seem to be doing well here this year. Anyways, make a great camp fire starter when dried.

Yes you do have loosestrife - it generally likes wetlands like Iriqouis Wildlife refuge or Montezuma but there are several bio-controls that are quite effective at controlling it.

It has been virtually eradicated from Montezuma for the most part. However down by Ithaca and other parts of the state it is still growing strong.

All the loosestrife info you could ever want to know is at this link.

[5.9cummins]

My wife said they look like hollyhocks,she had them at her old house.No known way to get rid of.

That's what i was thinking of - helps to read all the posts first.

I am not sure its a hollyhock though (if it is, its stunted at best).

A good clear close photo would do wonders on ID.

[Deerthug]

Thanks 5.9. I'll take some better pics tomorrow and post them.

Edited July 4, 2012 by Deerthug

[Doc]

If you do a Google search on "purple loosestrife" the very first selection is an entire page of images of this plant. Apparently there is a few different varieties that each look different. I have to admit that after looking at that page, I'm not as sure as I was that this is purple loosestrife. The leaves don't look right, and the flower pattern doesn't look right. Take a look at that page and compare the pictures to the actual plant that you have and see what you think.

[sampotter]

Foxgloves

[sampotter]

Aka Digitalis

[hb270deermanager]

Yup its loodestrife and its a pain to get rid of.Gotta put out by

the roots,don't let it seed and if its growing anywhere around the

property you have try and cut it back.Good luck with it its a real

pain to get rid of.

[growalot]

Sam...... I think your right it is the wild form...and how to tell is purple loosetrife has a square stem with a maroon tinge to it ...that stem in pic looks round to me.....digitalis is poisonous if ingested...it's what the heart medicine is derived from

[sampotter]

We are all wrong. I sent the pic to my mom (amateur botanist) and she set me straight. It is Helleborine and is in the orchid family. It is definitely not Purple Loosestrife (look at the leaves). 2-4D should kill it.

[Deerthug]

I think Sam is right. Here is a better closeup picture of the weed.

Spent the morning yesterday going around my property and pull these suckers out.

Where can I get 2-4D?

[sampotter]

^{Tractor Supply sells it under the name Amine. Roundup would work too if you wore gloves and wiped it on with a sponge to keep from getting it on the grass.}

[Deerthug]

^{Tractor Supply sells it under the name Amine. Roundup would work too if you wore gloves and wiped it on with a sponge to keep from getting it on the grass.}

Is Amine sold in places like Home Depot? Also are you saying to literally wipe the roundup on each individual stalk?? That sounds like it would take me days to do. I'd rather use something I can spray on it. I have not found any in my grass. They tend to grow between my Hostas and packasandra. The pictures are from my neighbor's property. The stalks are essentially creeping their way onto the edges of my property. So I'm not concerned about getting it on my grass and killing it.

[sampotter]

_{Home depot might sell something like that. Look for something that will kill broadleaf plants and not grass, which is what 2-4D does. You could spray Roundup and kill everything...}

[Deerthug]

Thanks for the great tips Sam. I have a spray in the garage that I used to kill wild violet that was growing in my lawn this spring and it worked. I think it contains 2 4-D.

[sampotter]

bingo