Is this a weed or ??????

[caliloo]

I found a small area of one of my beds where there are several of these little seedlings. Can anyone tell me what they are? They are kind of cute at this stage, but if I need to remove them I would rather do it at this stange than wait until they are bullies!

[newtohosta-no more]

The coloring and the glossiness reminds me of Ajuga (Bugleweed), but the shape of the leaves don't seem quite right.

[John]

Coleus?

[R. Rock]

Hi,
I hope "we" find out. I have the same "weed" I have been watching. Is there a chance it could be Beebalm seedlings? For the most part I think it may be a pretty "weed" showing a cold, long spring.

[Aud]

Looks like Pokeweed. If it is you have a hard time getting it to stay out of garden for life. Birds love the berries in the winter so they can spread the seeds in everybody's garden.

[John]

Are the stems SQUARE?

[nanny_56]

I keep trying to grow pokeweed for the waxwings..it grows wild all over here but none in my yard!

[Chris_W]

I know what this is because I've grown it before - it is an annual, but can self seed as you are seeing - and for the life of me I can't remember the name... Although it probably isn't technically a weed, if it is coming up in droves and you don't want them then yup, its a weed.

[kHT]

It appears to be some type of basil?

[caliloo]

No, not coming up in droves. There are about 12 - 15 little seedlings. The stems are not square and they seem to be confined to one bed. I don't think it is a basil, the leaves are slightly rougher in texture than any basil I am familiar with.

Of the seedlings, most are more purple-y with a little green and a few are mostly green with only a little purple.

If anyone thinkgs of the name or what it might be I woudl reaaly appreciate it! I don't remember growing any annuals that look like that, but it certainly could be compliments of a bird or squirrel from a neighbors yard.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone!

Alexa

[John]

Well, if not square, then nothing in the mint/basil/Coleus group...

How about Plectranthus, of some sort?

See this one:

http://www.nnvesj.org/Freq/images/Plant ... anthus.jpg

[lazygardner]

It sure looks alot like an ornamental shrubby plant my next door neighbor has. It died to the groundline this last winter, but it is coming up again now. It was very pretty, and so are the leaves on your plant. I image searched plectranthus and found plectranthus zulu wonder which looks like it, but I think there are some subtle differences. Personally, I'd leave it and maybe be sorry later, but the choice is yours. It does look like both a coleus and a bee balm. If you do leave it, please post pics later in the season so we can see how it looks when it is more mature. it sure looks like a member of the mint family but it would have to have square stems. When mints are small it is very hard to see they they have square stems. (I've asked two other gardener's here, and no one knows what it is.)

[party_music50]

It's Perilla (Shiso).

[John]

Perilla seems possible, yes...

[Midnight Reiter Too]

Are the leaves completely purple on the underside?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66286183@N00/71268202

[Tigger]

Sorry I was slow to see this post.

Alexa, could it be the native eupatorium rugosum? We get lots of these not-quite-Chocolate (named cultivar) seedlings on our property. I never really notice the blooms, but they must bloom.

Here's a pic of 'Chocolate' from We-Du. 'Chocolate' is a selection made by Dick Lighty, who used to run the Mt. Cuba Center for Piedmont Flora.

[govgirl75]

That is a pretty plant. Love the color.
Glo

[petal*pusher]

It's definately perilla! I planted a few several years ago in one of the gardens and it seems to have found a permanent home! It is an annual, but reseeds itself very readily.

I like the smell and look of it.....and it lasts really well in arrangements.......Pam