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andrea

By Andrea

Yorkshire, United Kingdom Gb

Red Campion and Borage...friend or foe? Grows in profusion in my garden.




Answers

 

Up to you - keep it you like it, sling if you don't. I try to pull red campion out but it never gives up...

Are you sure the other plant is borage and not alkanet, which does tend to romp away rather.

18 May, 2016

 

Nice plants, both. They are British natives but 'friend or foe' only depends on your own view of them. If there are too many in your garden then remove some of them.

18 May, 2016

 

Thanks for that, yes on reflection it could be alkanet, I remember someone giving me some a couple of years back. Personally I like both, but as you say in moderation. Wondered if others regarded them as weeds.

18 May, 2016

 

A weed is only aslant in the wrong place... in other words if you are happy with where they are growing let them be!

18 May, 2016

 

they are only weeds when they get out of control. I never totally get rid of them as they are such beautiful native plants that the bees and butterflies adore.

19 May, 2016

 

Campion are weeds here but only because they take over given half a chance. So hard to pull them up when they look so pretty, but its self defence! And bees love Alkanet.

19 May, 2016

 

I get rid of alkanet as soon as I spot it - once it gets to a certain size, its next to impossible to dig it out, and I can't stand the texture of the leaves, very uncomfortable and irritant (to me, anyway). I just let the forget me nots spread and flower instead, then hoik them out when they're done, because bees and insects like those too. And they're easier to manage than alkanet. Red campion I've never had to deal with, doesn't seem to grow as a 'weed' here.

19 May, 2016

 

It seems to be a bit choosy. I had a friend in Stafford who planted it in her garden intentionally and I don't think it ran wild there.

19 May, 2016

 

Alkanet is a thug in my garden, has a long tap root which is very difficult to get out and if a piece is left in the ground the plant regrows and as said above has horrible hairy leaves which irritate.

19 May, 2016

How do I say thanks?

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