Weeds? Help identify.

Question: Can you identify these?

responder: Hania Oleszak  Replied July 14, 2023, 11:42 AM EDT
response: Hi Lisa, This looks consistent with toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata). Do you notice milky sap that leaks out if you break the plant? Do you notice a central dark spot on the underside of leaves? Thanks! Hania

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 14, 2023, 12:57 PM EDT
response: I don't see the dark spot but it is milky when broken. I think I will pull them as weeds based on how they seem to be spreading, On Fri, Jul 14, 2023 at 9:43 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Hania Oleszak  Replied July 14, 2023, 2:58 PM EDT
response: Hi Lisa, The dark spot doesn't necessarily have to be there to be toothed spurge, but sometimes it is there and it can help with identification. Toothed spurge reproduces by seed, so pulling the weeds before they set seed will be very helpful for management. For a small infestation, I would recommend removing them physically, but there are chemical options for large infestations. Thanks,Hania

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 14, 2023, 3:29 PM EDT
response: Thanks. I will be pulling right away since they have the seed pods started. Fortunately they haven't gotten to unmanageable numbers.  I have a couple other mystery weeds I need to get pictures of and sent in. With all the rain what would have been just a few in the past is now quite a lot. I have one with very narrow leaves that has a pink bloom at the top but also a little green star shaped "bloom" partway down the stem at a side shoot. When pulled it has a skinny root at the top but becomes a fleshy cylinder farther down. Very strange. I will get that picture out soon.Thank you so much. I appreciate your help.LisaOn Fri, Jul 14, 2023 at 12:58 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Hania Oleszak  Replied July 14, 2023, 5:07 PM EDT
response: Sounds good, I will keep a look out for your photos!Thanks, Hania

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 14, 2023, 5:30 PM EDT
response: Here are a couple for the plant I was telling you about.On Fri, Jul 14, 2023, 3:07 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Hania Oleszak  Replied July 20, 2023, 3:45 PM EDT
response: Hi Lisa, Do you, by any chance, have a photo of the flower? Thanks, Hania

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 20, 2023, 4:01 PM EDT
response: The pictures I sent on the 14th are both the same plant. Here are the same two plus a couple others. The little green star shaped bits started falling off the plant and looked like they could have tiny seeds but they also had the pink bell type flowers at the top. I hope this helps.  And thank you for your time! LisaOn Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 1:45 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Hania Oleszak  Replied July 20, 2023, 6:20 PM EDT
response: Hi Lisa, Is there any chance you can get a clear photo of the flower? The flower is too blurry to see. Thanks, Hania

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 26, 2023, 12:14 PM EDT
response: Sorry to be slow to get back. I got gung ho and pulled all of this plant as it was really spreading. I looked for one I missed but found nothing but some small starts. The blooms were a bell shape but with slightly ruffled petals if that helps. I will keep an eye on the little ones and see if they bloom.  Thank you so much for your help.LisaOn Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 4:20 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 26, 2023, 12:14 PM EDT
response: Sorry to be slow to get back. I got gung ho and pulled all of this plant as it was really spreading. I looked for one I missed but found nothing but some small starts. The blooms were a bell shape but with slightly ruffled petals if that helps. I will keep an eye on the little ones and see if they bloom.  Thank you so much for your help.LisaOn Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 4:20 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 09, 2023, 1:36 PM EDT
response: I found one of the plants in bloom. So much for pulling them all! These have both the little pink bloom and the green star shaped bloom. Thanks for your help. LisaOn Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 4:20 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Alison O'Connor, PhD  Replied August 10, 2023, 3:11 PM EDT
response: Hi Lisa,  Apologies for the delay. Hania has taken a job outside of Extension and we're helping catch up on some of her questions.  To be honest, I'm stumped. I feel it could be a penstemon (the leaves look more "penstemon-y") or a type of four o'clock (Mirabilis).  I don't know if it's actually a weed - did you sow any wildflowers in this area?

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 10, 2023, 10:18 PM EDT
response: I didn't have any wildflower seed in that part of the garden and nothing like this sprouted in the area I did plant it. These just turned up last year and then there were many more this year. The little pink/white blooms are at the top of the stem not along it so not like penstemon really. The secondary "green star flower" is further down the stem at the leaf joint. They are turning up in several places in the yard. They get about ten inches high so not very big with loose branches. I guess I will keep an eye on them and keep looking for more clues. Thank you so much for the help. I now know it is not something common here. Lisa

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 14, 2023, 11:59 AM EDT
response: I'm pretty sure that it is Mirabilis hirsuta (hairy four-o'clock), which is native but not particularly ornamental. Have a great day!

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 14, 2023, 2:48 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much for the info! I might just let them go because they don't look bad either, just not showy. I just need to keep them out of my garden. I would never have thought of four-o'clocks. LisaOn Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 9:59 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: