What is this growing in my backyard (photo 1)?
We are letting the backyard go wild after having grass for several years. There are a bunch of different plants growing but this is the most prolific in a certain area. At first I thought it was wild violet and got excited (native, parts edible), but now I’m pretty certain it’s not. (I think photo 2 is wild violet.)
Including additional pics of other plants that are growing (photos 3-6). Are any of these good/better to encourage?
Thanks to any who can help!
by FirmAssociation917
13 Comments
I am fairly certain that #1 is creeping charlie. Pull it up, put it in a plastic bag, get rid of it, repeat. It will take over everything.
This is henbit deadnettle — and it’s edible, too. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_amplexicaule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_amplexicaule)
Picture 2 is violets
OP here. Thanks for all the comments so far! Southeastern US.
I pulled up a bunch of pic 1 (what people are saying is creeping charlie). But it’s tedious. And I’ve only made a dent. Once I pull it, what should I do in that area – try to move other plants there, or leave and just see if it comes back?
ALSO, how much maintenance should we be doing as we let the backyard go wild? We were thinking of just maintaining the edges, so that the plants aren’t growing into the area that borders our fence line (where we have mulch and dry bed rocks). Should we be mowing any areas depending on which plants? Is it bad to mow if we want the yard usable for pets and kids?
Have loved seeing everyone’s non-turf yards and endeavors in this sub and grateful for any feedback.
I’m assuming you’re on the east coast based off of the plants I see, but it would help us ID if you posted your geographic region!
Picture 1 – Creeping Charlie (Invasive). Get it outta there as best you can, but it’s a real pain.
Picture 2 – Violets (Native)!
Picture 3 – Hard to tell exactly which plant you’re asking about, but I see what i think is wild lettuce (native probably)
Picture 4 – I think it’s chickweed, but the blurriness makes it hard to tell for sure. Debatably invasive depending on where in the US you are, but dies off pretty quick after it comes out in spring.
Picture 5 – Could be a type of mint (lemon balm, specifically) based off of the leaves and density, but I’m not sure. Easy way to check is to rub a leaf between your fingers and smell it. You’ll know if it’s lemon balm by the lemony minty smell. It’s not native, but it has naturalized in the US.
Picture 6 – Pennsylvania selfheal I think. More certainly if the leaves are fuzzy. I LOVE selfheal – forms a great groundcover that flowers beautifully, and pollinators are all about it. But could also be henbit deadnettle suggested by another poster – of the two, I’m only familiar with selfheal.
Don’t eat any of these unless you know plants well. JFC. Some of these are edible, but still, I’m not going to tell you which ones.
#1 = Creeping Jenny/Ground Ivy
#2 = Violets
#3 = Invasive hodgepodge
#4 = Chickweed
#5 = Pignut?
#6 = There’s your Dead Nettles
Creeping Charlie is the worst. Unless you like it, then hey good for you. But if you want grass, it’s almost impossible to get rid of.
Ground I y, also called Creeping Charle.
I knew a woman who couldn’t remember the name and called it Crappin Jack!
Get the app PICTURE THIS. I would be lost without it!
The 2nd photo is of wild violets.
My absolute favorite!
1. Ground Ivy
2. Violets
3. False hawksbeard
4. No idea
5. Slender wild basil
6. Purple dead nettle
Several edible.
Hey, what are you doing in my yard? Seriously, we have the same “lawn”. Heaps of henbit, dead nettle, violets and whatever the heck #4 is – those seeds fly everywhere when you pull it up. Ugh! But the bees love it all, so we just mow when it gets too crazy.
You must be my neighbor bc I have the same