We should start replacing ' weed ' with ' flower ' at the end. I'm growing milkflower, ironflower, and ragflower in my garden. Worth a try. They'll never figure it out.
The common names have been in use for so long they aren't going to change - plus there is already a milkflower - and its not native here. Best course of action is to get people to understand what a weed actually is.
@@BackyardEcology If enough people start saying a new word it does become an entry into a dictionary. Just has to be enough saying it. There are many words that exist today that weren't in use only a decade ago.
True, but most of these names are also the common names used in botany, and are in every plant book in existence. Names of plants and critters don't become a new word as easily as something like meme, or yeet where something totally new has been created. These plant names have been around for a long time. Personally I prefer to use the Latin names as there is zero question what plant you are referring to.@@joanfrellburg4901
My yard is more native prairie then grass. I have a lot of really neat plants that the local wild life have given me as well. There are only a few plants I really dislike, creeping Charlie and wild morning glory being two. I am now embarking on trying to grow the native plants in pots to sell or give to local neighbors as my yard is a talking point and a lot of people stop by to ask questions. When I show them the plants with weed in their name in action, they actually are fascinated.
Once people see what a native plant landscape can look like and the pollinators and wildlife that are attracted to it many come around and get on board with native plants. Creeping Charlie also known as ground ivy is not native to North America and is considered an invasive species.
It would be a great name for it! Number one bobwhite food across the southeast - and a bunch of other birds eat the seed too. I have allergy problems with it, but I still promote it in very early successional fields.@@karenholt9744
A family member of mine refers to any native plant as a weed, I always reply "a weed is a plant that's not supposed to be where it's growing. This IS supposed to be here." It's another reason why common names suck a lot of the time. I always just say asclepias, regardless of the species when talking to non plant people. If they ask about the name, I tell them it's named after the Greek god of healing, truth, and prophecy and son of Apollo-Asclepius. If they ask why... I give um some nonsense about the nectar and scents that provide healing to the soul 😂 (but than let them know the plants have toxic cardiac glycosides, so don't try making tea out of it).
Most plants have some virtue to them, but a weed is simply a plant that is growing in a location where it is not wanted - no matter how good or bad it may be viewed by humans. There are tons of plants humans consider wonderful, but also consider weeds under certain circumstances.
Bermuda is one of the toughest grasses to kill off when doing habitat management - and garden management. Its ability to spread from both stolons and rhizomes make it tough to get rid of and allow it to spread like wild fire.
