Popping up all over the yard in the fall, is this plant Aggressive Weed or Native Wildflower? Florida Betony is also know throughout the southern US as rattlesnake week. As a native wildflower, this plant spreads rapidly by an underground system of rhizomes and tubers. An edible wildflower, you can use the tubers raw in salads and eat the leaves in vegetable stir fry dishes. To help you create and manage the garden you love, whether you are a beginner gardener, a senior gardener, returning to gardening, or interested in developing a pollinator and butterfly garden, plant characteristics, including soil, sun and water requirements, plus bloom time, bloom colors, and tubular bloom form are discussed. A Plant Info card is included for your use. Gardening tips to for weed control and use of herbicides included. Florida betony may be considered for meadows and Freedom Lawns (these lawns promoted by UF/IFAS reference below), but most of the southern USA consider the plant a weed and do not recommend adding it to your garden. If you’ve found this plant in your yard, what are you doing with it? Love to hear from you. Like. Comment! Subscribe @gardenyay
//Timeline:
00:00 Introduction to Florida betony, a native wildflower many consider an aggressive weed
00:36 Positives of Florida betony, a native wildflower are discussed. Plant may be used to attract pollinators and butterflies to wildflower meadows and Freedom Lawns. Not affected by mowing.
01:51 Edible parts of plant covered. Tubers eaten raw in salads and leaves cooked with stir fry vegetables.
02:47 Negatives include aggressive spread by underground root system. Originally endemic to Florida, now spread from Virginia, across southern states.
03:59 USDA Hardiness Zone 7-10 and Plant Info Card shared, including plant characteristics, considered an herb, part of mint family.
04:41 Sun, soil, water requirements covered.
05:27 Bloom time, bloom colors, and bloom form of tubular flowers on the stalk discussed.
06:19 Primary propagation by root system discussed and demonstrated.
06:51 Gardening tip: discuss time of plant emergence in the fall and its removal.
07:47 Demonstration of hand weeding in garden bed illustrates extensive root system and tubers – all must be removed from soil to prevent plant regrowth.
09:09 Discuss use of herbicides, and recommendation to consult your local Extension agent for up to date information, especially on systemic herbicides.
10:12 Recommendation not to use herbicide in garden bed as drift can kill surrounding plants.
10:54 Will start my winter weeding projects now that I am aware of Florida betony plant characteristics and growth. My expectations for control of this plant are to manage my garden beds but not the yard.
11:52 Thanks for watching! Like, Comment and share your gardening information, additional videos to watch if you are interested, Subscribe @GardenYAY
🪴🪴🪴//Resources
🪴https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/stachys-floridana/
🪴https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP597
🪴https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/research/weedsbyflowercolor/pinkorblue/stachysfloridana/
🪴https://www.fnps.org/plant/stachys-floridana
🪴https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-stachys-floridana/
🪴Freedom Lawn https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/duvalco/2022/04/11/freedom-lawn/
🤗🤗🤗//What to Watch Next:
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🤗Perennial Peanuts for YOUR Yard https://youtu.be/4cic5iTlX3w
🤗Bidens Alba Friend or Foe https://youtu.be/hXuf_r_4JIE
🤗Right Stuff Pollinator Plants for Fall https://youtu.be/05SItRLIcVQ
//Credits:
Stachys officinalis by Michael Meijer from Getty images via Canva
Dead plant by christeraa from Getty images via Canva
Dead plant by Hans from pixabay via Canva
Dead flowers by francisLM from Getty images via Canva
Grassy meadow with herbs by Mike_Pelinni from Getty images via Canva
Wild violets in grass by Skhoward from Getty images via Canva
Southern White in purple betony by 13threephotography from Getty images via Canva