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What plant is this? Weed or the Flower I Planted? Help plant experts! pics?

I'm in Ohio

A while ago, I got some seeds and planted them. Can't for the life of me remember the name of the plant, but the seeds were very tiny... so tiny and nondescript they looked like little grains of dirt.

I was very pleasantly surprised when I got little sprouts, so I lovingly took care of them, and I have moved them out of the pot to my front yard. They are very tiny, haven't grown much. The ones who survived my horrible transplant have a reddish/purple stem, little teardrop leaves, close up adorably when they don't have sun. They look like this: http://i40.tinypic.com/wkllhe.jpg

Now I've started to notice a weed I've never seen before growing in the back yard that looks kind of like my "flowers" if they grew a bit more. The yard is like a living museum of lots of different types of weeds... This one also has a reddish stem but it has grown a lot more. It looks like this. http://i42.tinypic.com/339n2oj.jpg

Now, please tell me

A- if they are the same plant, and

B- what kind of plant it is called.

I'll be disappointed if I put all that work into nurturing a pretty weed that invaded the pot where I put the seeds... but I can take it. I won't do anything with it, probably just continue watering it... with my tears.

Update:

@Hi, it does look kind of succulent, and I know what you mean about jade plants... but I think jade plants have juicier leaves, and they wouldn't be growing randomly in my yard.

Do you guys think they will at least flower prettily? I've just read that purslane is quite a beneficial plant (if this is indeed purslane) but I don't plan on eating any of this...

5 Answers

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  • enn
    Lv 6
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Weed. They are the same plant.

    It's known as "Purslane". It grows cute, but ants love the seeds and will take them home and the seeds will then grow in cracks in the pavement.

    Here is more information from University of California at Davis Integrated Pest Management website:

    http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/purslane.html

    As for keeping it, the seeds drop where the flowers are on the stems. The bad thing is that it can take over within 2 years if left uncontrolled. The problem is that it competes with the plants you want to grow for water, space, and nutrients. The other problem is that the seeds can stay in the soil dormant for years, and keep growing sprouts even after you have weeded over and over.

    Jade plants and succulents are tricky in Ohio. You may not have a problem with purslane because of the snow and freezing temperatures. It can be used as a medicinal herb, but unless you are very good at processing medicines from herbs, I don't recommend eating it.

    Here is a list of herbs that WILL grow well in Ohio. It is from DeMoynes Greenhouse out of Columbus Ohio - I think this is a great starting point for growing herbs in your area:

    http://demonyes.net/Herb%20List.htm

    Good luck!

    Source(s): A.S. Landscape Horticulture
  • 8 years ago

    A- They ARE the same plant.

    B- They are Purslane.

    It is sold as a flower and as a vegetable. It is sometimes erroneously called Moss Rose or Rose Moss, although it is neither a moss nor a rose. And, yes, in most areas they are considered a weed (unless you buy the names varieties as vegetables or flowers). It grows wild in my yard and garden. I actually have two distinct varieties growing as weeds; one has a red flower and one has a yellow flower. My rabbits don't care for either of them and, to be honest, I wouldn't take the time to harvest the leaves from the wild varieties because they are too small and don't taste that great to me, either. There is a large variety called Golden Purslane that reaches a foot tall and is supposed to be quite good. I have never tried it so I can't say one way or the other.

    Here are some images for comparison:

    http://images.google.com/search?q=purslane&pr=&u=9...

    Good luck and enjoy!

  • 8 years ago

    Herba Portulacae

  • 8 years ago

    It's a succulent, probably a variety of sedum. There are some succulent weeds, but the definition of weed is any plant growing where you don't want it.

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  • 8 years ago

    They are the same plant and act as weeds I don't know the name of them but I'm sure they are good for paths and walk ways

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