I Am Clearing A Garden Which Was Overshadowed With Trees (several Now Removed To Let In The Light) But One Plant Is Popping Up Eve

Question

rywhere. Small fern like leaves, close to the ground but not foiled. What is it and how do I get rid of it? It has thick tuberous roots which go deep, even for the tiny,just-emerging ones

Answer 1

It's one of those that is hard to identify because it has several lookalikes. I looked at RHS gardening's common weeds and it does look similar to herb Robert, but it also looks like Queen Anne's lace and poison hemlock (poison hemlock has purple splotched stems). It also resembles the herb sweet Annie.

I suggest using an herbicide to be sure you get the roots, especially if it's poison hemlock. Since they are thick roots, it may take more than one application.

Answer 2

This is one of a few very similar looking species. The first thing that I would check will be the smell of the root. If it smells like carrots, then you have the wild carrot.

If it smells less like a carrot and more earthy, and there are no purple markings on the stem, then this could be in the same genus as edible parsley. This could include wild parsley.

As well, there are toxic species of hemlock that look like this. Consult your local master gardeners for a more in depth look at your plant in question.