This thing just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It is now almost 5 feet tall. It looks like it will bloom or something, but then just keeps sending out more leaves in the place where it seems a bud ought to be forming.
My husband said it looks like a pot plant, but I'm pretty sure it's not. We've all seen plenty of photos of those things. (And a few people have seen the real thing!) This was not in my garden last year. And I know I didn't plant it this year, it just showed up, so I decided to see what it would turn out to be. The suspense is killing me.
I'm sure when it blooms it will be easy to ID, but so far, nothing. The close-up photo is looking down on the place where it seems a bud should be. Photo was taken a couple weeks ago.
Can someone help?
By ~gloria
Editor's Note: Gloria has since found out that this plant is Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifica). Here is a link to the follow up post:
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Can't tell for sure from your picture but look up Giant hogweed.
en.wikipedia.org/
If it is this be careful the sap of leaves is dangerous.
My mom called it Horse weed because it can grow as tall as a horse. Said it was easier to get rid of wen small
I don't know what your plant is but I had one that looked just like it, it never did bloom, just kept growing, getting bigger and bigger and looking like it might get a flower some day. I finally pulled it out last spring because it was overpowering everything else in its way. Would be interested to know what it was if you find out. Thanks.
Looks like a fairly common field weed we have around here. If you like it, leave it. If not, then rip it out... ;-)
I had a bunch of them like that too and I thought maybe it was a hibiscus because they do look similar to hibiscus leaves. But then they started popping up not even close to the hibiscus so assumed it was a weed.
Sorry about the double reply but found this, your plant looks just like it.
davesgarden.com/
To Elaine,
You're right, the leaves are similar to the ones at the website you suggested, but my plant does not have purple stems and is much taller, less bushy than this one. I'm not sure the plant in your photo would grow in NY, I think it was a southern grown plant. Though maybe mine is some relative to that one. Thanks for your reply. ~gloria
To Blane,
Where is "around here?" Maybe I could find a book on weeds of your area. Thanks for your reply. ~gloria
To burksandy,
If I ever find out, I'll post a new photo with the name. Thanks, ~gloria
It looks like lettuce to me, that is getting ready to go to seed. If it's lettuce you will see clusters of little yellow flowers that will change to seed.
To Leslee,
We had a royal battle with hogweed once and this is different. If you could see how the leaves of this plant form inside one another you'd be able to see the difference. But yes, the shape of the leaves is similar but not the same.
Thank you suzy, I'll keep an eye open for those clusters.
Ha!! Finally. I know what it is. I let this monster grow, but it never did bloom. I figured I could I.D. it by the flowers, but nada. Nothing. Just kept getting taller. As of clip time today, it was 6.5 feet tall. Yikes. A botany professor identified it for me as ambrosia trifica, giant ragweed!
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