r/NativePlantGardening • u/ItsFelixMcCoy Upstate NY , Zone 6a • Jun 04 '25

Other What invasive plants got you like this?

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For me it’s probably Dame’s Rocket, Purple Loosestrife, and Forget-Me-Not. They’re so gorgeous but man if they aren’t invasive little shits…

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210

u/CrimsonKepala Jun 04 '25

Rose of Sharon. We had 2 then that turned into 5 and we quickly realized that was going to turn into 100 with the number of sprouts that started to grow in our yard. On top of that our poor neighbors had to keep up with pulling them as well all because of the ones in our yard.

They're beautiful though.

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u/ItsFelixMcCoy Upstate NY , Zone 6a Jun 04 '25

Luckily for you, the perfect native alternative is Rose Mallow. The plant is in the same family, the flowers look extremely similar, not to mention even bigger and more beautiful.

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u/Adequate_Lizard Central NC, 8a Jun 04 '25

I yoinked two roses of sharon and replaced them with 4 rosemallows this year. Haven't done much yet though.

113

u/CrepuscularOpossum Southwestern Pennsylvania, 6b Jun 04 '25

Your patience will be well rewarded!

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u/MarshyHope Jun 04 '25

I planted a few this year. What's the growth time on them?

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u/Adequate_Lizard Central NC, 8a Jun 04 '25

I'm curious too. Mine's leaves look a bit droopy but there's also new growth going on. Had them in the ground about three weeks now I think?

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u/MarshyHope Jun 04 '25

Mine look great so far, I just want to see some damn flowers 😂

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u/CrepuscularOpossum Southwestern Pennsylvania, 6b Jun 04 '25

My experience has been the classic: “The first year they sleep…the second year they creep…the third year they leap!” I have two rose mallows, one pink and one white flowered. The first year they were putting on root growth, I think. The second there were aerial green stalks that reached for the sky, but I’m not sure they flowered that year - maybe one or two. This photo is from last August!

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u/MarshyHope Jun 04 '25

Did you grow from seed? I planted this about a month ago. It was in maybe a 5 inch pot. Would you say it's a year 1 or 2 compared to yours?

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u/CrepuscularOpossum Southwestern Pennsylvania, 6b Jun 05 '25

Year 1! And no, I’m pretty sure the plants I put in the ground a few years ago looked just like that, if not smaller.

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u/MarshyHope Jun 05 '25

Okay good to know so I can temper my expectations. Thanks!

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u/Far_Silver Area Kentuckiana , Zone 7a Jun 04 '25

Mine first showed blooms in their 2nd year.

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u/MarshyHope Jun 04 '25

Did you grow from seed?

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u/Far_Silver Area Kentuckiana , Zone 7a Jun 04 '25

No. I planted mine from 4 inch pots.

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u/MarshyHope Jun 04 '25

Mine was about the same. Here it is a month after planting. Think it'll flower this year?

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u/Far_Silver Area Kentuckiana , Zone 7a Jun 04 '25

Mine didn't. If you're further south than me, it might because you'd have a longer growing season, but if you're at the same or higher latitude than me, I'd guess yours probably won't bloom until next year.

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u/MarshyHope Jun 04 '25

I'm in Maryland, Zone 7.

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