Plant & Weed ID Megathread

blackbox · 24-03-2026 06:18PM

This wonderful rhododendron came with the house. Anyone know the variety? The light coloured centres are paler than the photo suggests.

The Continental Op · 24-03-2026 06:31PM

There are a few variegated Rhododendrons. President Roosevelt seems to be the nearest fit.

https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/diggin-it/2011/0601/Variegated-rhododendrons-A-wow-factor-in-the-landscape

standardg60 · 24-03-2026 06:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124337846#Comment_124337846

Great shout.

Looks fabulous!

blackbox · 24-03-2026 10:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124337846#Comment_124337846

Thanks. I'm sure that must be it.

It's a great specimen.

The Continental Op · 24-03-2026 10:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124338396#Comment_124338396

tbh I've avoided it in the past as out of flower I find the variegated leaves make it look a bit odd but that specimen definitely changes my mind.

Jim_Hodge · 24-03-2026 11:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124329403#Comment_124329403

If it's the Bugle I have, I can't get enough of it. It's a great ground cover and weed suppressant. The flowers are great for pollinators too. What harm is it doing in the situation pictured?

standardg60 · 24-03-2026 11:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124338456#Comment_124338456

It's not Bugle Jim

Nigzcurran · 25-03-2026 06:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124338456#Comment_124338456

Whatever the one I have is it's taking over everywhere. Forcing it's way up through the paving and grass and crowding all the other plants out. It would be fine if I could contain it somehow

standardg60 · 25-03-2026 01:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124338782#Comment_124338782

I thought there might be a bit of confusion with the subsequent chat about Bugle (ajuga). To confirm, you have loosestrife (Lysimachia).

Field east · 25-03-2026 03:20PM

Suttons Seeds SHOCKER

Just bought a packet. Of Suttons Seeds and it stated on pkt that it contained circa 380 seeds. The pkt did not feel right re felt that it contained very few seeds. I opened it and counted only 51 seeds. Anyone out there have a similar experience?

New Home · 25-03-2026 04:08PM

Probably an issue with packaging - there may have been a leak in the seal or an issue with the filling machine, Maybe contact them and ask.

The Continental Op · 25-03-2026 05:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124339882#Comment_124339882

Lots in the past, but that was when I lived in the UK. I just used to write a letter to the seed company and they'd send me replacement packs. Even if the seed was OK I'd still complain if I didn't get any to germinate and again would get replacement packets.

Here in Ireland after Brexit I've no idea?

Hobby farmer · 29-03-2026 10:16AM

Hi folks, I posted this on here last year, I was getting different suggestions with Google lens. Here's the one that was in the middle of the nasturtiums now. It's grown into a monster.

looksee · 29-03-2026 10:35AM

Not sure but it might be lunaria, honesty. Did it have round silver seed pods? Its a little bit early for it to be in flower.

New Home · 29-03-2026 10:47AM

It reminds me of the fake nettles, we used to suck the nectar off the flowers as children. Lamium orvala, I think.

But no, the flowers look different.

blackbox · 29-03-2026 10:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348523#Comment_124348523

Definitely it's Honesty. We have loads of it in flower.

Speedsie · 29-03-2026 11:03AM

Does look like Honesty (Lunaria annua), a little early for flowers, but if it's in a sheltered/warm spot, not beyond the bounds of possibility.

As @looksee says, if it has papery seed heads, that's what it probably is.

Cody montana · 29-03-2026 11:05AM

I know them as silver dollars?

Speedsie · 29-03-2026 11:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348575#Comment_124348575

There's a number of common names for Lunaria! Honesty would be the one I know best, but I've heard Silver dollars as well. Moonwort and Peter's Pence would also be used

The Continental Op · 29-03-2026 11:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348491#Comment_124348491

Come on guys how about some more thanks for the OP here after he bothered to get back with a follow up picture so we could see the "mystery" plant in flower.

Hobby farmer · 29-03-2026 12:03PM

I'm confident on the honesty (I think) on a side note, has anyone had any luck planting Cammelias in the ground where conditions aren't ideal (not acidic enough). I was gifted some and without knowing anything about them I planted them out. They flowered but never looked happy, yellowing leaves etc. I potted them in an effort to save them and put them in shade and they are flying. Could I did a large hole and fill it with the right compost then keep feeding them? Or should I just buy some nice pots?

looksee · 29-03-2026 12:08PM

My experience is that camelias outgrow pots and eventually will become sad looking. Maybe if you keep topping up soil, repotting, and feeding they might be ok. I have somewhat acid soil in the garden, and camelias do ok, but there was one area where soil had been brought in and was evidently less acid and camelias I planted there looked sad and yellow. I moved them, not expecting much, and they have greened up nicely though their progress seems to have been stunted a bit by a couple of years in lime soil.

Edit, previous experience of trying to create a localised acid environment in an alkaline soil has not been successful, you will probably do better in pots.

Edit edit, your pic has only just come up, that's fabulous! Deep doing what you are doing!

Igotadose · 29-03-2026 12:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348681#Comment_124348681

We have, sadly, a lot of experience failing with Camelias. Our neighbour here in West Kerry has fabulous ones, and his secret is to dig a deep hole, and fill it with all the scraps and dust he generates cutting turf. Showpiece quality plants. I'd say in sun/shade not too sunny and well drained with all the peat.

Our experience always the soil wasn't acid enough, supplementing after planted didn't do much. The soil here is trash, lots of clay and most parts of the yard are boggy nearly year round. Makes for challenging growing of anything bar grass.

Hobby farmer · 29-03-2026 01:06PM

Here's one for ye, Google gives me everything from oregano to Japanese knotweed. It grows at an unbelievable rate and constantly tries to send up new shoots at the base. Doesn't appear anywhere else in the garden. Later in the summer/autumn it has really woody thorns on it. I usually cut it back right down but let it grow that height last year to try identify it. It doesn't seem to form any flowers but like I said I used to keep it cut well down.

looksee · 29-03-2026 01:26PM

Can't help you there, maybe you didn't get flowers as you were cutting it down, see what it does this year. First glance I thought honeysuckle, but i don't recall it having rosettes of leaves and anyway honeysuckle doesn't have thorns. The rosette formation of the leaves and the cane type stems is distinctive, it should be easy.

The Continental Op · 29-03-2026 01:59PM

This one is going to annoy me until some one gets :-(

I can see myself pruning a wall shrub with similar growth and habit. Those long woody stems being the bit I remember.

Abeliophyllum distichum came to mind but has no spines as did some of the "climbing" solanums but its not either? Campis radicans also has a lot of growth like that before it flowers but leaves are completely wrong and again thornless. Some climbing jasmines have similar growth again no thorns.

Hmmmm?

Hobby farmer · 29-03-2026 02:14PM

It's growing tight to the wall but not actually climbing it. Where those rosettes of leaves are will have a cluster of big thorns later in the year

New Home · 29-03-2026 02:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348793#Comment_124348793

Do the flower buds on the right belong to the same plant?

New Home · 29-03-2026 02:21PM

Could they be goji berries? Not sure if they have thorns, though.

Hobby farmer · 29-03-2026 02:21PM

Bless your eyesight! No that's the Virginia creeper behind it

Plant & Weed ID Megathread

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