mystery plants

[Chris McN]

Hi All,

We took a walk in the woods over the weekend, and I came across these plants. I know the blue flowers are forget-me-nots but I don't know what the other two are.
Any ideas?

This one looks like it would make a great ground cover:
[img]https://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/ChrisMcN/Mysteryplant1.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/ChrisMcN/Mysteryplant2.jpg[/img]

Thanks!

[NEWisc]

The first one looks like it could be Maianthemum canadense (Canada Mayflower):
https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MACA4&mapType=nativity&photoID=maca4_001_avp.tif

The one in the beer bottle looks like Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge):
https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=EUESE&mapType=nativity&photoID=ties_001_avd.tif
If you pick off a leaf or break the stem you should see a white milky sap.

If it is Leafy Spurge, do whatever you can to get rid of it right away. It is a very persistent invasive plant. Remove the flowers as soon as possible, and don't compost them or leave them on the ground. They will continue to mature even after they have been removed from the plant. Once in the soil, they can last for many years.

The plant is unfortunately one of those that can only be dealt with by using a herbicide. Even then, it has to be a chemical that kills the root (like glyphosate) or the plant will simply regrow. The roots go down as deep as 4 feet, so digging is not possible. If the root is broken, it will produce 2 plants instead of one. With the scant foliage, spraying is not very effective. It's hard to get good leaf coverage and the errant spray will harm all the surrounding plants. Painting it on with a brush is probably the best method.

I wouldn't wish this plant on anyone. Good luck dealing with it.

[cynthia_h]

I've dealt with invasive wild fennel (at a friend's house) with boiling water. I didn't know about vinegar then, but it would have speeded up the process, for sure!

IF this plant is an invasive (and I would take a cutting to a nearby nursery/gardening store--NOT big box store--for identification), I recommend boiling water down that taproot BEFORE you try to pull it out. Let the water do the work.

After several hours or maybe 1 day, start working on removing the plant.

Cynthia H.
El Cerrito, CA
USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 17

[Chris McN]

Hi All,

Thanks for the info.

I googled spurge and found the correct species. My plant is definitely a cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) which is also invasive. Well, I guess I better not just toss it out in the yard!