Help identifying this weed/plant

[Jillanne Dizon]

Hello all,

Can anyone help me identify this? It smells a bit like mint (maybe even like Vicks!) and has fuzzy leaves. Are there even any weeds that smell like that? I reside in Southern California (inland). Thanks.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

Hyptis suavelolens smells like that, and would be found in your area but that plant looks a little too juicy to be that.

 

[ducks4you]

Have you tried digging it up? If it just has roots that might be the fix. IF it has tubular nodes then it is probably like plantain (wild violets) and bindweed (morning glory). They spread underground and you have to dig up every little piece, or else it will grow back. If this is growing among plants that you want to keep, try a small paintbrush, like the kind in a child's watercolor paint set. Cut it all the way down to the ground and "paint" herbicide in the middle. I suggest the cutting back bc I fight burdock, and it dies better when mowed down and treated than to leave intact and spray the leaves. Treating immediately after cutting leaves the weed bleeding and vulnerable and it will soak up anything, water or herbicide.

 

[digitS']

The picture and, certainly, the description of the smell, makes me think of Plectranthus. Broad-leaf thyme (CalPhotos click)

I wouldn't expect to find it growing in the wild but I don't live in southern California .

Jillanne Dizon , a search of CalPhotos in that genus might turn up the plant. Altho, that website doesn't stay strictly in California .

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum Jillanne, glad you joined.

That does not look familiar to me. It looks like a perennial that is growing back from the roots instead of individual plants growing from seeds. With those dead plants in there it looks like you have had a frost and it looks pretty dry? What is your elevation, that may be a clue?

Do you know what kind of flowers it has, shape and color? How tall it gets? What kind of seeds it has? Anything about the mature plant might be a help.

Are you interested in keeping, depending in what it turns out to be? Transplanting or just leaving it where it is? Or do you want to eliminate it regardless? I'm generally nervous around strange plants with fuzzy leaves, it may be natures way to warn animals not to eat it. But then it might be an interesting herb or a nice addition for decorative purposes. You never know.

One way to get a positive ID would be to take some of it it to your county extension agent, some top and a few roots. Looks like you could cut off a corner with a shovel. They will probably have to send it off to an expert but should be able to ID it for you. May take a while. You could try e-mailing them a photo to see what they say, they may recognize it, especially if it is native to the area and not an import.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

The picture and, certainly, the description of the smell, makes me think of Plectranthus. Broad-leaf thyme (CalPhotos click)

I wouldn't expect to find it growing in the wild but I don't live in southern California .

Jillanne Dizon , a search of CalPhotos in that genus might turn up the plant. Altho, that website doesn't stay strictly in California .

Steve

Possibly right genus, but probably wrong species. Broad Lead thyme smells like, well, thyme, or oregano. But there is Plectranthus tomentosa, the Vicks plant. That smells like menthol.

One real problem I am having with any of these idenfications (including mine) is that, based on the picture, the plant has saggitate (spear or arrowhead) shaped leaves . And both of the possibilities have rounded leaves without "tails".

 

[Jillanne Dizon]

Thank you everyone. I havent dug it up, but I will in the future. We just purchased the home and plan to make a lot of changes in the backyard. Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

 

[Jillanne Dizon]

Welcome to the forum Jillanne, glad you joined.

That does not look familiar to me. It looks like a perennial that is growing back from the roots instead of individual plants growing from seeds. With those dead plants in there it looks like you have had a frost and it looks pretty dry? What is your elevation, that may be a clue?

Do you know what kind of flowers it has, shape and color? How tall it gets? What kind of seeds it has? Anything about the mature plant might be a help.

Are you interested in keeping, depending in what it turns out to be? Transplanting or just leaving it where it is? Or do you want to eliminate it regardless? I'm generally nervous around strange plants with fuzzy leaves, it may be natures way to warn animals not to eat it. But then it might be an interesting herb or a nice addition for decorative purposes. You never know.

One way to get a positive ID would be to take some of it it to your county extension agent, some top and a few roots. Looks like you could cut off a corner with a shovel. They will probably have to send it off to an expert but should be able to ID it for you. May take a while. You could try e-mailing them a photo to see what they say, they may recognize it, especially if it is native to the area and not an import.

Possibly right genus, but probably wrong species. Broad Lead thyme smells like, well, thyme, or oregano. But there is Plectranthus tomentosa, the Vicks plant. That smells like menthol.

One real problem I am having with any of these idenfications (including mine) is that, based on the picture, the plant has saggitate (spear or arrowhead) shaped leaves . And both of the possibilities have rounded leaves without "tails".

I think if the plant is some kind of herb I may keep it and transplant it somewhere else. I am not sure what our elevation is.