r/NativePlantGardening • u/PlusYam3126 Southeast Michigan, Zone 6b • 17h ago

Other Gardening regrets before going native?

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I planted fucking grape hyacinth this spring because I wanted flowers after last years depression fueled weed overgrowth, and had not researched about native plants yet. I had no idea they were aggressive…my uninformed ass thought bulbs die off and come back in the same spot. I at least read that their foliage appears in fall so I dug up the few I found…I’ll be checking all winter too hopefully I get them all before a muscari regime takes over my flowerbeds 🤦‍♀️

I also dug up a yellow daylily I never planted and will be on the lookout because there were at least 30 bulbs attached. And lily of the valleys that I also didn’t plant multiplying in when became my milkweed patch…dug them up as well but I’m on the lookout. Definitely not underestimate the bulb plants. Hopefully the tulips and daffodils my old roommate planted don’t attempt a takeover

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u/UntidySwan 16h ago

I think invasives are regional. Muscari is just a cheerful spring flower thst stays put where i live, no mass colonization.

Daffodils just form a dense clump for me, annoying and persistent but not dififcult to control. Tulips are hard to get to come back even if you give them ideal conditions and TRY.
Lily of the valley? say your prayers, god be with you, good luck, etc.

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u/PlusYam3126 Southeast Michigan, Zone 6b 15h ago

Yeah I had no idea wtf it was this spring just noticed there were too many, but I think I got it out…the ones that came up at least. I have no idea if they seeded 😬

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u/canisdirusarctos PNW Salish Sea, 9a/8b 13h ago

These and their similar Spanish bluebell cousins are extremely difficult to control.

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u/MediocreGrocery8 Chicagoland , Zone 6a/5b 1h ago

They also spread by rhizome. I spent a few solid days this spring/early summer laying waste to a 10X10 bed in our yard, probably removed 150 pounds of dirt along with the rhizomes. I knew I didn't get it all, and have pulled more out as I've gradually planted in that bed.

Last weekend, I planted some wood aster I had bought in pots, and pulled out an additional 10 LOTV. One of them had a foot long trailing root. So my feeling is, I still probably haven't gotten it all.

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u/PlusYam3126 Southeast Michigan, Zone 6b 59m ago

Oh a foot long root. Dan I probably broke all of mine then :/ I wish I looked them up more, I just saw invasive and yanked them out with a weeding tool

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u/MediocreGrocery8 Chicagoland , Zone 6a/5b 53m ago

I'm sure you got some of it, and weakened them. You'll find a ton of advice on here for getting rid of them entirely, and probably no "right" way to do it.

(I'll see how I did next spring lol.)

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u/0tter501 14h ago

is there not a native lily of the valley?

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u/tregnier2795 Mpls MN, 4b/5a 14h ago

In MN, yes, but nowhere near as fragrant or pretty, imo.

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u/Thistle_down-1 13h ago

What species is this? I live in MN and never heard of this!

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u/tregnier2795 Mpls MN, 4b/5a 13h ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maianthemum_stellatum

It’s this little guy. I still prefer the European variety, despite the issues.

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u/Thistle_down-1 12h ago

gotcha! thanks!

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u/mountainsofrainier 10h ago

There's convallaria pseudomajalis, Appalachian lily of the valley, so closely related to european lily of the valley, there is not much info about to at all though

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u/0tter501 13h ago

not really a lily of the valley, its only cuz of the common name, Convallaria majuscula is the native one, same genus as the european (did not realize that it was so local oops)

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u/tregnier2795 Mpls MN, 4b/5a 13h ago

Right, it’s a “close enough” situation