I'm still learning, but wondered if having a forum about weeds may be an idea? When I was young, I remember saying, "That's a pretty flower" and be told that it was a weed. I was left thinking, "but it has flowering petals". Just a thought about a forum that discusses, say, the Canadian Thistle or 'junk trees' or the Purple LooseStrife; invasive plants as well? Just offering an idea

One persons food is another persons poison. Same is true with the weeds but not all weeds are good for nothing. Some are edible.
This Morning glory tree is a weed here but if I say that half the arid world will end up jumping on me.
Regards,
Arif.

Very well explained Arif, I never thought of it that way I guess then it is a regional thing? Like the purple loose strife that grows around a pond or small body of water. When it dies and it's leaves fall upon the ground, the mass of its leaves kill algae the following season, which then in turn kills future frogs because the tadpoles need algae when they are born to eat. But yet I have seen fields of the purple loose strife, and it is quite indeed extremely beautiful, and seemingly a field of a dream in its own right. I understand your point Arif, thank you

I have plants grown on purpose but they set seeds and they sprout. Now not exactly weeds but for me they are weeds and I have to keep taking them out or my garden will be overcome. Like I said, one man's food is another man's poison. I have oxalis for example growing in very uncomfortable places(base of succulents) for me they are weeds but some people look for them on purpose and it does make a delicious sour veg dish or this amaranthus which keeps popping up for me it is an annoying weed but that too makes a mean vegetable dish and I for one like it cooked .
Mimosa, touch me not. That also has become a weed.
So it depends upon an individual what they call a weed. Anything unwanted is a weed.
Regards,
Arif.

Very well put

I've always liked the expression "A weed is simply a plant that has not yet found its place". Having recently battled "Crow's poison", though, I could see why someone would request a forum dedicated to "unwanted germinations". I did, however, get a lot of good information on the plant identification forum with my problematic volunteer.

There already is a forum for pests and diseases.
I would think that is where we could discuss weeds that are a nuisance, as
well as insects and plant diseases?

I am not sure that is necessarily the best place to discuss weeds. When everyone settled on "pests", we were trying to convey "destructive insects and critters". Here's the thread:

The thread "Insects and Disease" in Site Talk forum

I thought KAMasud made a great point, too, about the difficulty of defining what a "weed" really is. I see dandelion for sale (for culinary and medicinal usage) all of the time but I also understand it is a pain to many gardeners.

Yah, KAMasud did make a great point, and I do understand why it would be difficult to have a weeds forum. All good

I have Agaves and Aloes which abundantly sucker all over the place but if I call those a weed the succulent fans will be after me . Then I have varieties of Jasmine that keep sending out runners and pop up somewhere else where not required. Same problem as above the Jasmine fans will be after me. Then I have two Rangoon creepers which seem to creep up when I am not looking and not necessarily near the mother plant. Pursalne makes a wonderful sour dish but that thing is out of control. A vine which has wonderful bunches of flowers and red berries which the birds seem to love then go poop somewhere else. Keeps me on my toes. I have a lawn which should not have Bermuda grass in it. Bermuda grass send out runners yards long in order to trip me when I am not careful. Except for Bermuda grass which has shear evil planes to break my bones and every body will agree is a menace the rest I dare not call a weed. Two grape vines whose fruit the birds love to eat and broadcast the seeds where not required. Oxalis also makes a sour wonderful dish but loves to grow along the base of some of my most vicious cactus for which I require forceps but unless I get the roots out intact, a waste of time. Banyans and Ficus which due to my wonderful bird friends end up growing on the roof tiles. Round mamalarias which love to break away when I am not looking and roll away to find new abodes in peculiar places. Guavas loved by wild parrots and you can complete the picture. I have polka dot plants growing also in my lawn along with other things. Horsemint and mints seems to hate me. I grow them in order to make a tea for my allergic asthma but they have idea to give me> Except for Bermuda grass the rest is relatively. Black and Brown eyed Susans. which deem
As far as I am concerned, anything growing where it is not required is a weed but how to classify them as weed? Dandelions which makes a wonderful drink plus a drug. The list is never ending.
Regards,
Arif.

I am not sure we would have to condemn a plant as a weed but a forum that discussed what they looked like and their habits and how to get rid of the unwanted plants in the garden setting could be informative.
It could also call out the eatable ''weeds'' such as purselane is a very tasty and nutritious weed here.
I have often told people you don't have to know the name of every plant in the garden just the weeds and pull them

Becky, yes for purselane there is a thread somewhere and Becky is the Mod I think. It is on my watch thread and keeps popping up in fits and starts. I do not know where, forgotten that's for my memory. Cinda instead of weed's which can be anything unwanted why not native and wild plants? There might be a thread I have a suspicion but again memory.
For me even these date palms that self seed in my garden are weeds but no one in their right mind will call date palms weeds. Except here it is a native plant . Same with loquats and a myriad other plants which are a nuisance here but not in America .
There are quite a few with microbadges which say native and wildplant lover. for example you and I for starters.
I can think of one good for nothing, invasive, nasty weed only. Bermuda grass.
Nasty weeds forum does not sound quite right to me but if you name it nuisance plants forum then I am right there with you. "Nuisance" is quite eye catching and you may have quite a few attending BUT as a wild plant lover weed does not sound correct. That's my thinking . As you hold the same microbadge you may have a different view.

KAMasud, I grow Bermuda Grass for hay and grazing. In fact, when I researched types of Bermuda years ago, I was surprised at the number of named cultivars that have been bred specifically for this purpose. I guess it is yet another example of one man's weeds being another man's treasure

I would be able to name some plants I would call weeds only because I would be very happy not to have to pull another one ''ever''
Burdock
cockleburr
bindweed
creeping charlie
pigweed
smartweed
poison ivy
fleabane
nutgrass


Don't get me started just in from 5 hours of weeding

I have to agree with your list, Cinda. Ouch!

I remember as a youngster, I always said that when I grew up I would have a weed garden because I'd see so many pretty flowers and someone was always saying "That's a weed!"

Now that I'm *older* and I've lived in Florida for 46 years I find myself cussing the dang weeds ... which are aplenty! There are many beautiful plants that are invasive and want to take over the garden and many others that don't take over so much but are just a pain in the *knees* because it seems like most of the time spent in the garden is on ones knees yanking them out!

So I guess sometimes one persons weed is another's favorite plant.

I am starting to somewhat embrace my 'native weeds' to the point I am actively trying to identify and include them in my plant list. I've allowed buttercups to colonize the foot of a weeping willow, which is a tough spot for anything to grow. I've even weeded the buttercups so they look like an intentional planting. The flowers are quite jolly and the foliage robust. I also occasionally let my burdocks go in a flower bed, they have some architectural interest here and there. I don't let them go to seed, and they are a bit difficult to dig out once they've put on some bulk. Two natives I let colonize at will are western bleeding heart and maianthemum - both fill in voids nicely and are also easily pulled if they get too happy.

I think a thread in the Natives & Wildflowers forum might be an appropriate place to discuss the pros and cons of common weeds, which are usually either true natives or introduced invasives.

Start one and I will follow

Done, not sure if I've copied over the thread correctly, but it can be found in the Wildflower forum:

http://garden.org/thread/go/17...

found you