Unknown

[ArnoldT]

This appeared in a pot full of Gladiolus angustus, which it is not.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Two flower scapes per bulb and nicely scented. Scape around ten inches tall.

[PeterT]

Nothoscordum?.... burn it Arnold, if it is the one I think it is, because I believe that you have too many good plants which it may invade

[ArnoldT]

EEK.

Where did it come from.  Did some jealous person sneak it into a rare seed collection to "get me".

It smells so pleasant.

Thanks, Peter.

[PeterT]

it is very nice..... and gets around! just like Dandelions and Celandines, -bulbils, seeds and deep growing

[Steve Garvie]

It is a pernicious weed under glass -especially in sand plunge beds where it seems to be able to grow up through the drainage holes of pots.

Ruthlessly weed it out or you will find it replacing your choice Lachenalias and Gladioli!

[ChrisB]

I'd certainly agree with these comments.  Florists use it in arrangements but in my garden it just won't go away.  Tried everything...

[Palustris]

And resistant to Roundup too!

[PeterT]

apply weak early morning and again in the evening using finger and thumb with exam gloves

[Lesley Cox]

Years ago my mother was required by local Ministry of Ag and Fish (as it was then) to excavate more than a cubic metre of soil from her garden because a few bulbils were identified in the area. They didn't help her do it but did come and supervise to make sure it was done! The bulbs can go very deep as well as far and wide.

[Geoforce]

Very interesting that this is an aggressive invasive for many.  Over here, it is a common roadside plant in many areas.  On the North Carolina 'Outer Banks' where I have a vacation house, it is common in all sandy soils and I also have seen it in Oklahoma and Texas areas where I grew up, but here in Pennsylvania, it is persistent, but not invasive nor aggressive.  Cute little flower of no specific consequence.

Our NASTY is Ornithigallum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem)  hard to kill, grows like a weed, seeds everywhere.

Different strokes I guess.

Geo

[ChrisB]

Both pose serious problems for me Geo, I've got the incredibly sandy soil most bulbs lust after....

[Maggi Young]

Welcome Geo - isn't it fascinating how we all have different "nasties" ? I think here we'd have to cite assorted Oxalis 


Arnold : I tend to think of the most troublesome offenders in the Nothoscordum family as having  dark stripes on the white  outers - yours have green stripes - looks a bit like Mary Sue's " N. sp." on this PBS page : http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Nothoscordum - so I'm wondering if it might really be such a thug?

[art600]

Arnold

Be very careful when digging out the bulb.  You need to go wide and deep as the bulb resembles a 'pineapple' with many many offsets - all of which will form plants.  Do NOT let it seed.

I thought I had eleiminated it from my garden several years ago, but have found 3 plants so far this year.

Maggi

I looked at the website but could not find a 'blue' version of Nothoscordum.  I have a plant that is identical to the thug, but blue.  Reluctant to get rid of it if it is not a thug.  Any thoughts on what it might be.

[Maggi Young]

I think we'll need a photo, Art - how blue is blue, for instance?   Could be a Brodiaea  .......

[art600]

Difficult to get the true colour that is several shades darker.

Plant is approx. 18 inches tall and looks identical to the 'thug' apart from colour.

PS  Found another 'thug' in my front garden -