Wish this enemy on no one because at the professional gardens they discard the contaminated weedy soil. Or they have resorted to sifting the soil to remove the corms. It is a bad weed. And solarization does not outlast the corms’ durability!
By Joyce Browning, Harford County Master Gardener. Follow on Harford County Master Gardeners on Facebook
I definitely have this! I think it was a hitchhiker on a plant given by a friend. I now realize I’m leaving the corms behind when I pull them. Ugh. I’ll have to be more exacting when I weed these guys.
I haven’t seen this in my gardens yet but, what I do have is a horrible invasive plant called Chameleon Plant or Houttuynia Cordata. The only way to kill it is by spraying with glyphosate…50% strength. Get this, I’ve seen it for sale at garden centers as a groundcover!
What are the growing zones for this plant? will it migrate to the colder northeast? Thank you!
My sad invader is morning glory. Who knew that anything could seed itself so copiously! BTW, these videos are outstanding! Driving over the roots? Cruel, but effective!
I discovered this 5 or 6 years ago and it took awhile before it was identified. I had a large patch (36″x40″?) but but I dug the entire section out and bagged it. I’ve since been relentlessly trying to dig it out as soon I as see it…and the garlic-like corm at the end must be removed or it’ll keep multiplying. It’s also in my pachysandra which makes it even more difficult to pull…ugh! I also make sure I don’t take any plants or soil from the area so I don’t unintentionally spread it to another section of the garden.
I have this and my aunt has it. Most people are not familiar with this plant but since it has 3 ways to reproduce I think a lot more people will be aware of it soon. I’ve had it only since last summer but it came with a vengeance. Anyone know when it comes up? I had a compost nearby it last year and I’m wondering if I need to toss it. I don’t want to spread it.
The earliest reports of it in Maryland are in mid-April, but new shoots can emerge all through the growing season if there are corms in the ground.
Thanks for sharing this amazing post! It’s crucial for individuals, particularly those involved in gardening or managing natural areas, to be aware of invasive species in their region and take steps to prevent their spread.
I’ve gotten to the point where I’d like to try cutting each plant down at the base and then covering with cardboard or something and then from there building the soil to start over. Don’t know if these things will still find their way around no matter what? I’m willing to dig it all out and start over but I don’t know if I can prevent spreading it when I dig. That’s why I’m thinking it might make more sense to cover it and then build up over it??
It invaded my herb garden an I tried covering the ground with cardboard and mulch. They were totally unaffected! Just grew under the cardboard until they found a pin hole to squeeze through. When I lifted the cardboard to dig them out again, they were 2 feet long!