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Perennial or Weed?

July 26, 2009 by Jeanne


“Is this a perennial or a weed?”

Good question. As John and I weeded the butterfly and hummingbird flower garden yesterday, he had to ask me over and over again, “Is this one of the perennials or a weed?”

Is this a Perennial or a Weed?

The truth is, many flowers grown in the perennial garden to nurture butterflies and hummingbirds DO look like weeds…or, grown in other conditions, may be thought of as weeds! These flowers tend to be big, floppy, and bloom for only short bursts.

We bought the Butterfly & Flower Garden Kit from Spring Hill Nursery, and added our own plants – Buddleia, Salvia, Nepeta and Lantana.

The Penstemmon is always what confuses us. Once the big red spikes have gone away, and we’re left with the long floppy stems, someone wants to rip it up.

But I do admit, we were fooled by a couple of weeds. It wasn’t until later that day when we were weeding around the orchard trees that I realized that something I’d left in the Butterfly Garden was really a weed.

But what is a weed, exactly? Just a plant growing where you don’t want it!

Considering that Lowe’s was selling Goldenrod this week, I’m inclined to broaden my definition of what belongs in the garden…and what constitutes a weed.

Filed Under: Growing Flowers

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  1. Lya Sorano

    July 26, 2009 at

    It can be both!

    There are annual weeds and perennial weeds and — as you wrote and I learned in my Master Gardening training — a weed is a plant that grows where it isn’t wanted.

    Up to a point, I tolerate “weeds” in my garden, especially early in the growing season, when everything green is welcome. Some “volunteer” grasses are as interesting as the cultivars one buys at nurseries for $5 to $10. But I only keep them for a short period of time and do now allow them to turn to seed.

    Goldenrod has found a place in my garden, and it’s about to start showing color. Everything seems “early” this summer. Some maples are already turning, and there are many reds and yellows on the trees along the highway – something I had not expected to see until October.

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