Some plants should come with a government warning!

A while ago I did a big plant swap with a GC member who unfortunately doesn't contribute any longer. Got lots of lovely plants from her and a bit of a Helianthus that was described as a bit of thug (don't know which variety unfortunately but definitely not Lemon Queen as have that). I planted the swap plants last season and all took well. The "thug" Helianthus flowered well but was rather tall and needed staking so not that keen on it. Having a big garden I'm usually quite happy with thugs but this Helianthus is something else. I have been growing herbaceous plants for over 30 years and this plant takes the prize for the biggest thug and should come with a warning! In 1 Season this "thing" has spread 8 yes I measured it, 8ft. It has bolted all over the place and I spent all day today trying my best to get rid of it. I had to lift 2 huge Hostas and a very big clump of Rogersia as the bugg.. had got into those as well. I had no idea just what a thug this plant was, about a month ago the local gardening club asked me if I had any space plants for their annual plant sale. I'd casually noticed a bit of spread of the thug so dug some up and donated it for the sale. At this stage the extent of the spread wasn't apparent.Gawd should I inform the gardening club that I've given them a horror or let others find out the hard way?

 

I'd tell em before it's too late.

Do you want some Japanese Knotweed cuttings?

 

Thankfully I rather dislike daisylike flowers at the best of times so not a mistake that I'm likely to make

 

I have a few thousand small white allium to spare if you want any Silu

 

I've got a couple of patches of that stuff, been pulling it out every year since we moved here 28 years ago. Still got it.

We also have a patch of it in the corner of the 'cut flower' garden at work. Last year, after digging out a load of it to try and keep the patch within bounds, I hit upon the idea of planting Goldenrod all around it, as Goldenrod can also be a bit of an invasive thug too. My thought was that they could fight it out between them and the Goldenrod would stop it spreading so fast.

So far, I'd say the Helianthus is ahead on points.

 

Agave Americanas, pups pups and more pups.

 

Ah, I do feel for you. But who hasn't got a few unwelcome garden visitors ...

Celandines - pretty but a pest
Japanese Anemone - stupidly planted this, can't get rid of it, insipidly pink and invasive
Arum (Lords and Ladies) - persistent and greedy for land, that's the aristocracy for you
Centranthus ruber - I really like this but it seeds everywhere with roots that are aiming for Oz

Onwards

GG

 

You lot do cheer me up, knowing I'm not the only person battling with something or other. @Zigs you are responsible for me taking a chunk out of the inside of my cheek. Was happily crunching on a Minstrel, then read you "helpful" suggestion and offer. @ARMANDII if you'd like to try again I'd be happy to send you as much as you like of my thug. I cannot believe it won't do with you. I don't even dare put the stuff on the compost heap. It's been added to the bonfire pile where it belongs. I'm just preying I've got it all out of the bed I stupidly planted it in, Couch grass in comparison is a pussy cat.

 

I was battling with depression last year and you lot helped me get through it, apart from one member who ought to be bloody ashamed of herself

 

Me too @ARMANDII, that`s if I can get them to grow in the first place.

 

Sorry to twist this thread round ( it's @ARMANDII and @pamsdish 's faults Lol ).

My bugbear is Pyrethrum. I just love them. For two years I grew them from seed, got some nice plants, they died. Last year bought plants, they died. Just bought another one, thought I might as well give it another go.

If anybody says they run rampant in their garden I'll s c r e a m .

 

Start yelling @Anthony Rogers. I have various varieties and all of them are quite vigorous apart from Duro? (deep red) which isn't invasive. None tho are like the "triffid arrangement " I started this thread about. Just goes to show how different our gardens can be. You probably have a list as long as your arm of plants I wouldn't have a hope in snowballs of growing.