In the past week we've seen trillium, fawn lily, wild iris, and the dainty stream violet - all natives, putting on an impressive colorful show. But as usual, there are some uninvited guests at this party! This time of year, most are low-lifes, meaning they hug the ground to avoid detection by spray wielding gardeners! A few of these party crashers are actually natives, but most are not. Even so, their flowers are attractive and you can easily be seduced by their subtle beauty, so beware! Captain Louis Renault would know exactly what to do in this situation...
Here's a "roundup" of the suspects you might see lurking around your favorite trails.
Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)
You've probably seen this stuff growing in parks and lawns just about anywhere in the area. It can form huge colonies and has tiny pink flowers. Fortunately for you and your dog, these nettles do not sting. Non-native.
Storksbill or Filaree (Erodium cicutarium)
This invader has been successful along our country roads where we live. When the dime-sized blooms are out, the non-native makes an attractive ground cover for a few weeks and is common throughout the west. The blooms close up by mid-afternoon, so it must have a good internal clock.
Rock Purslane or Red Maids (Calandrinia ciliata)
Another ground creeper with tiny purple flowers, this native weed could pass for a desirable plant in some circles. In the wild, it can create handsome swaths of color on a hillside.
Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis)
This cute suspect can easily go undetected as its flowers are so tiny. And with over 500 other related species, you'll never be far from a Veronica. Non-native.
English Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Tea and Crumpets anyone? Just about any lawn will be a good habitat for these little invaders. Most gardeners don't mind their visits, but a grass purist may disagree. The quarter-sized flowers close up when it's cool. They are non-native as the name suggests.
Dove's Foot Geranium (Geranium molle)
There are several "geranium" plants around the Northwest. Two are natives and the other three are not, which includes the Dove's Foot. This one is hardy and prolific, like the other suspects in this post, it can form large swaths, especially along partially shaded moist trails. The flowers are smaller than a dime, but the petals are lobed.
Hairy Bittercrest (Cardamine hirsuta)
In spite of the name, there is not much "hair" on this plant. But those big seed pods tower over the flowers as the plants mature. Non-native. Some folks harvest the fresh leaves for salads or soups, adding a peppery taste.
Well I could go on and on about these pesky plants and their rowdy relatives, but in all honesty they don't really bother me too much. One could say they are just another food station for our dwindling population of native bees.
