Page 1 of 1

Weed or Flower?

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:02 pm
by jdurling
Hello,

In the front garden of the home I recently moved into there is the following which I am not sure is a flower or weed?


[url=https://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/34/weedoryellowflower.jpg/][img]https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4480/weedoryellowflower.th.jpg[/img][/url]


Anyone able to help?

Thank you,
James

Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:18 am
by !potatoes!
it's only a weed if you don't want it there...looks like on of the wild cresses, winter cress maybe. I've left a few around. some pollinators seems to like them.

Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 8:55 am
by applestar
I would keep it at least until the flowers drop. Attracts beneficial insects too - aphid mummy makers, hover flies, robber flies, braconid "caterpillar eater" wasps, green lacewings,...

After the flowers are done and only the green spiky things remain, you can cut at soil level and put the top in the compost or on the path, or use as mulch, or let it go to seed and collect the seeds to scatter where you want more of it, but don't let it go to seed and allow the seedpods to dry on the stalks if you don't want them growing in this spot.

Thanks

Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 11:28 am
by jdurling
Thank you both for your help!

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:00 pm
by Green Mantis
It's called Wild Mustard. What the proper name is, I'm not sure. Awful stuff, spreads something terrible. Get it gone!!! It spreads something awful. If it's kind of scratchy when you go to pull it out, it's definately wild mustard!!!

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:22 pm
by rainbowgardener
Yes, I was thinking wild mustard too. Agree with potatoes that a weed is something you don't want, particularly something you don't want that tends to spread rapidly. So you have to decide whether you want it or not. The leaves and flowers are edible, with a bit of spicy/ mustardy flavor.