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Border plant??

United Kingdom Gb

A couple of years ago I found, in the corner of the border, a plant which grew during the summer to a grass-like, non-flowering, plant. It came again this year. It has proliferated throughout the border since the summer, and, despite digging most of it up, is still growing during the autumn and early winter months. The growth at the moment is about 2-3 inches in height, grass-like as I said, it has a matt if fine roots, a bulb the size of a finger nail, and the smell of, something like an onion?? The border is now cleared of other plants, it is just 15 foot in length and 2-3 foot in width, and, the only plant growing, and multiplying, is this invasive grass-like plant. Do you have any idea what it could be?




Answers

 

Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum is Onion grass, usually grown in the variegated form, but either way it is still a thug. Round Up does get rid of it eventually.

12 Dec, 2008

 

~Wild garlic ~an absolute menace completely taking over from the bluebells in the wood at the end of my street~seeds everywhere as well as having millions of little bulblets forming on the roots!Exterminate~exterminate!

12 Dec, 2008

 

Wild garlic has broad leaves with flowers. I'll vote with Owdboggy that somebody has planted onion grass as an ornamental some time and it has become invasive. As Boggy says it is a thug. If it is wild garlic, then cook with the leaves and flowers.

John.

12 Dec, 2008

 

~the wild garlic we have here in Wales has fairly narrow strap/grass like leaves~not broad~ and white flower heads in April /May~I have been dealing with it on and off for the last millenium and wouldn't want to do anything with it! It infuriates me by popping up everywhere because we are so close to the woods where it is totally rampant.It is choking out the bluebells which really saddens me!It is a private wood or I would be in there with shears/spade/flame thrower.......

12 Dec, 2008

 

Lol Arlene. I think a flame thrower is a bit drastic but I know how you feel.

Leylandii says non-flowering which does point to a grass. And I tried googling 'welsh wild garlic' but didn't find one. I think that what you call wild garlic is probably a local name for whatever you have but it doesn't seem to be the wild garlic so beloved by trendy chefs for making weird omelets which is also the horticultural wild garlic. It's like what we call sticky buds round here. We discussed this on another forum and got about 12 local names, the least flattering being p**s the bed. This is always a problem when you are dealing with generic names. Maybe we should all use Latin names all the time? lol.

John.

12 Dec, 2008

 

Hi Sarraceniac
~the very young stuff has very thin leaves,grass like and spiky ~ and almost the same size as the bluebell leaves~but yes it does have white flower heads and reeks of garlic when you handle it.The tiny little bulbils I suppose come up thinner! and although Berwyn did say it was onion like he didn't mention flowers!
I would still give it the boot!asap!

12 Dec, 2008

 

As far as I am aware, when you dig up any of the 'wild' alliums one would hardly say that they smell rather LIKE an onion. They STINK of onions. Must admit it was the lack of flowers which made me think of the grass. That does flower but not always. All the smaller Alliums I grow (far too many boss says!) flower pretty regularly even as small seedlings.

12 Dec, 2008

 

I think I know the one you mean Arlene. Someone gave me a potful claiming it was white bluebells - took me AGES to get rid of it :-(

12 Dec, 2008

 

~ I totally commiserate with you Andrew~had you done something to upset them?
I woudn't give it to anyone although there appear to be those who like to eat it on the websites I have been looking at.
.When we first came here in1974 the wood was entirely bluebells wheras now I reckon about 40% bluebells and 60% garlic.I go there regurlarly with the dogs and when it is in flower they reek!
I am glad you got there in the end!

12 Dec, 2008

How do I say thanks?

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