Comments on: An Intriguing Mystery for the Plant Detectives

By: Phill

Phill — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:31:39 +0000

Sorry forgot to add this: the lobes on this bush are what I call disfigured leaves. Sometimes, ambrosia trifidia’s environment causes the lobes to “disfigure” such as that. Usually, they are more defined and clean-cut. But, nevertheless, that is ambrosia trifidia.

By: Phill

Phill — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:29:26 +0000

I know this plant very well. It is a disgusting plant. It is ambrosia trifidia, also know as giant ragweed or horseweed. They can grow, if unchecked, to be meters tall. They desire direct sunlight and will not grow in dense forest in shade too well. Best way to get rid of them is to mow them. They are an obnoxious weed. Kill them when you see them. Major cause of hayfever and allergies in late summer. Not too fun to brush up against as they have fine, stiff hairs on stalk.

By: melinda

melinda — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:13:48 +0000

I happened on this just now…after doing a google search for hours to find out what the bush is that I have that looks just like this. It grew tall in the shade of a large tree here in Tennessee. Sure would like to know what it is. So sorry, no answers yet for you.

By: Karen Z

Karen Z — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:56:52 +0000

Robert – you are the enemy of all who suffer from ragweed allergies ! But I do not believe that to be giant ragweed as they do not bush out like that. I have only seen drawings of the mole plant, and they do resemble tomatoes ( the one I am referring to is not the castor bean plant – it is closer looking to okra). And this unidentified plant is not okra either, as it does not have that bushy appearance.

By: Robert B

Robert B — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:17:43 +0000

I find the giant ragweed plant a welcome friend along the edge of my back yard. By mid July I have complete privacy with 6 foot or taller plants and each fall I collect their seeds and scatter them along the lot
line. I’ve also been successful in transplanting them. If they come up in my 750 square foot garden area they are either pulled out or transplanted.

By: Churchill M

Churchill M — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:54:46 +0000

I certainly know them by site! I’m constantly pulling them up all over the place. They come up in the brocolli, squash, tomatoes, roses, daisies! It is definitely not tomatilla, I grow them and there are much smaller and laden with “halloween lamps.” They are called “weeds.”

By: Debbi Minor

Debbi Minor — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:41:49 +0000

I agree with nangy, looks like a caster bean family. my grandmother always grew it to deter moles. But sometimes it has more burgandy colors on the stock.

By: nangy

nangy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:02:07 +0000

Looks like a mole plant, my mom has them in her garden to deter moles.