Yes, it grow quickly and it had adorable little pink and white flowers. I could train it to twine up a small wooden ladder. But later that year I bought another Jacob's Ladder plant from a garden center and it didn't turn out to look anything like this one. Then of course Fall and Winter arrived and I forgot about the plants.
In spring the garage sale plant began to grow and grow and grow and it still didn't look like the other one. I wasn't going to be fooled anymore and decided it was time to do some research. I discovered that Jacob's Ladder wasn't a vine. Some more research and help from some GardenBuddies and I discovered that this was Crown Vetch. Yikes, I was the fool that bought what many consider to be a
So beware of plants bearing labels at garage sales ... and don't be fooled like me, they may not turn out to be what they say they are.
I'm joining Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Why don't you join and share some of the native/wildflowers that bloom in your area.
Hi Linda: I hope you had that crown vetch in a flower pot. It can really be agressive when it is happy. Has a pretty flower though. V
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to me with Obedient Plant or Physostegia virginiana. It didn't come with a warning label and I ordered it from a mail order nursery. Luckily I realized right away what it was doing and contained it. Hope your pretty little Wildflower doesn't become a pest to you. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is cute, though. Perhaps you'll be able to keep it under control and enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I would move that fellow out onto the side of a highway if I were you. That or a nice green pasture. At least he was cheep. lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. I've seen quite a few garage sales where the home owner was selling plants and have been tempted to buy. Maybe I'll stick with garden centres.
ReplyDeleteVetch can be extremely aggressive. It is a legume.
ReplyDeleteLinda, We've all been fooled by a bargain plant! The vetch is such a pretty flower tho! So glad you're posting for wildflowers~gail
ReplyDeleteI would have been fooled, too. It's quite pretty. I've seen weeds sold at the garden center, too, though they were labeled correctly. Still, I suppose buyer beware should be the gardener's mantra!
ReplyDeleteOh dear you poor woman. That stuff is so invasive.I planted it on the garage banking and I pull it up all summer because it gets out of hand. No wonder they plant the stuff here along the highway hillsides to keep the banks from eroding.I hope you got rid of it all.
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty, but I'm pretty scared of crown vetch after seeing it take over a few gardens.
ReplyDeleteBummer!
ReplyDeleteI like this meme too--hope to join in next time!
I've bought some "mistakes" like this, too, and this year I'm learning why some people say obedient plant is anything but obedient:) I hope you can contain the crown vetch before it spreads too far.
ReplyDeleteIt has such a pretty flower, so if you have success containing it, I'd keep it too. I thought Spiderwort and Obedient Plant were supposed to run rampant--but in my case, I can barely get them to bloom! So I guess it all depends on your climate and individual circumstances. Hopefully you'll be able to continue to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteAlthough you were fooled I must say I love the look of this wildflower! I love the idea that it spreads I will have to look for this one to plant in my now "woodland garden" The more wildflowers the better for me!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to visit a few more participants to see what else strikes me!
I have done this before...it can be scary! It is a very pretty flower.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a sweet little blossom.
ReplyDelete