Topic: Looks like something that's not a weed [Solved] Fireweed (Epilobium angustifol)

[Patty S]

I'm only seeing this in one spot in my yard, & that's what makes me think it's not something I want to pull up.
     

Does it look familiar to anyone?

[patches]

Geesh, Patty, I don't have a clue,  but the picture is coming up a little dark for me, so it's kinda hard to see the leaves.   

[Patty S]

I thought that was just my monitor that made it look dark, Patti.  I didn't remember to take a pic of it until dusk, so tomorrow I'll shoot it again, when I'll have more light.

[Fat Tam]

Looks like Mint... Break a leaf and rub it in your hand then smell it.......A Weed Is Just A Flower In The Wrong Place.

[patches]

I thought that was just my monitor that made it look dark

Hey, that's really funny, Patty,   because I thought it was my monitor that was making it dark.   

[Jim]

It is a bit dark.  Hit that zoooom too so we can see a close-up of the leaves. 

[Triss]

Kinda looks like something I have here, I do not know what it is called.  Mine has small pink flowers and spread quick.  It is considered a weed in my garden.

[Wrennie]

Looks wildflower-ish to me too. I let stuff like that go for a while just to be sure.

[Tina]

It looks like fireweed to me too (what Triss described). Definitely a weed in my garden. Very hard to get rid of once it takes hold. It is called fireweed because it is one of the first things to pop back up after a fire or in any disturbed ground.

[Patty S]

Here's a better shot of it (I hope)....
     

I Googled "Fireweed" & found: "The floral emblem of the Yukon is the Fireweed - A plant that thrives after forest fires is a common sight in the Yukon Territory, Canada."

I thought it looked familiar, cuz they grew all over the place in Montana, in places where forest fires had been.  (After the eruption of Mt. St. Helen's {Washington State - May 18, 1980}, they were among the first plants to grow up out of the volcanic ash!)  I burn a lot of weeds every spring, & maybe that's why they popped up there, along the fence. 

I think thie pics are sorta pretty! Since there are only these 2, & another on the other side of the concrete block (on the neighbor's side), I might just wait & see what they do, then pull them out before they can go to seed.

[patches]

Hey, that's much better picture, Patty, but it still doesn't help me at all.    It doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before around here.    Of course, maybe it doesn't grow in our area.   

[Tina]

Definitely fire weed. I left some to grow to see how they looked. Tiny pink (sometimes reddish) flowers. Not showy.  Very prolific seeder. I am still very sorry I let it take hold 18 years later.

[barleychown]

Pull it Patty. It's NOT pretty enough to make it worth it's trouble. Trust me, I tried.

[Triss]

If you are going to keep it Patty, be sure and pull it before it seeds.  The seeds are tiny and shoot all over the place.  I have them in all of my planters from the one I let go this last year.

[Patty S]

           ** ELEVEN WEEKS LATER **
You were right, ladies... it's not very pretty at all.  (It's going into the weed bag before any of those blossoms are replaced by seeds.)
     

     

Please disregard the neighbor's yard, in the background.   She's been at this a lot longer than I have... but I'm trying real hard not to make her ashamed to live next door to me!