At my age, with my experience, I should know better.
There were signs early on, which I chose to ignore.
There was just something so irresistible about
its seeds.
That’s right, seeds. Those carmine-colored, tiny, shiny rubies.
Not the flowers, although they are a magical spray of tiny pink of blooms on wiry stems.
Nor the chartreuse leaves which give it the name ‘Limon.’
It was the tiny jewels of seeds.
Thus the name, ‘Jewels of Opar’ for this Talinum paniculatum/ Fameflower.
I should have suspected when little, lime green leaves appeared in neighboring pots.
I should have realized its tenaciousness, when every cutting grew roots.
It should have been a warning sign when even tiny cuttings produced flowers and seeds.
I was blinded by those seeds. Fall in love first, ask questions later.
Finally, I did some research.
Caution! Self-sowing. Deep tap root. Eradication difficult. Invasive.
These warnings are for Zones 10 through 15, I am in Zone 7.
I still will not be putting any in the ground or sharing my many new plants
until I see if our winters will kill back seeds and sprouts.
I did read that the leaves are edible and can be made into smoothies.
If this becomes a problem, I will eat my way out of it. That always works well.
Sometimes, I just can’t help myself.
The heart wants what the heart wants. Bully or no.
FLOWER
floweralley 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opar_(fictional_city)Wondering about Opar??Jewels?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my! A wondering city…….. Much better story than coming from the same place as Frankincense…or was it Frankenstein? Maybe Tarzan? Ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
The flowers are pretty though 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have a terrible habit of tolerating weeds that are pretty in infancy. Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), for example — those cute little rosettes of dainty foliage. The worst thing is when I’ve left pretty weeds in pots to the point they’ve muscled out the original inhabitant of the pot. I just extracted a small feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) from a pot occupied by an amaryllis. If the amaryllis fails to flower because the feverfew hogged the nutrients, I have only myself to blame. But I have to say, this plant you’ve featured does look irresistible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t fall for a pretty seed.
While at a nursery, I filed a complaint for the entire Quince section, because all their pots were FULL of weeds. They let me buy one at 1/2 price. It was also root-bound.
I considered it a rescue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If the leaves taste like chocolate you’re done for..
LikeLiked by 3 people
I laughed out loud at that. So funny. Thanks
LikeLike
Oh dear! A wonderful metaphor for ignoring instinct when falling in love
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ces petites fleurs roses sont d’une grande beauté et si harmonieuses 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Denise. Glad you are back. I hope you are well.
LikeLike
Been there, done that! I actually paid for the seeds from a garden in the north, where I’m sure the plants are annuals. The plants have been coming up everywhere for years. Pull them while small or they will just break and leave the root to grow more. I also did a post on them awhile back that was nearly the same as yours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I had read it. I would have never let this little beauty into my garden. It goes on my list of “No Thanks List.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in love with this. Zone 5 here, but seeds still germinate, LOL! I want it!
LikeLiked by 1 person