Each spring has its own unique crop of weeds. This spring has an unusually high number of different weeds, due to our mild winter. The volume of weeds this March has been overwhelming.
Even though there were many contestants in the Spring Queen Weed contest, there was a clear winner.
This weed showed a superior ability to grow along side other weeds.
This one was firmly rooted wherever it took hold. It clearly dominated the field as a go-getter.
The lovely little purple blooms atop square stems were quickly recognized as a nettle.
Its hairy leaves with a blush of purple, arranged oppositely with palmate venation was the sign that this was no regular Henbit.
I’d like to announce the newly crowned “Spring Queen of the Weeds” is…
Purple Deadnettle/ Lamium purpureum
She is clearly top of the heap for the 2016 spring season.
Congratulations Nettie!
Do not expect me to end this post with
“Long live the Queen.”
Love this! You are invited to help with Nettie at our house!
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My mother used to refer to those as Catmint, I have pulled many in my garden in Atlanta.
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Hi ShrubQueen! I expected that you would comment on a Queen post. Deadnettle is in the mint family. There’s plenty left if you want some.
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Merci pour ce billet très intéressant sur les mauvaises herbes.
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Very amusing post. Happy to say this is one weed I don’t see.
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You can find it in Sweden, too.
“Rödplister” in swedish, “Taubnessel” in german, because I am a german.
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