Know Your Weeds, NYC

They’re in the cracks in the pavement, on the fences, sometimes growing out of buildings! and in your garden. Weeds! It’s good to know your weeds. Some are edible, or have medicinal properties, while others may be poisonous, but most are quite invasive. That’s what makes them a weed! Here are a few common weeds of New York

Ailanthus altissima, Tree of Heaven

This weedy tree will grow anywhere. In Baltimore, where I am from, you can find the Tree of Heaven growing out of many abandoned row houses. Some call it the ‘ghetto palm’.  It’s a non-native, fast growing, invasive species. It can get up to more than 80ft tall!

Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Common Ragweed

Ragweed is wind pollinated and is a major cause of common allergies (hay fever) when in bloom. Ragweed was once a cultivated grain crop.

Celastrus orbiculatus, Oriental Bittersweet

This vine is an aggressive growing weed that will take over any other nearby vegetation. When allowed to climb trees, the weight of the vine can cause the tree to become over burdened and unsafe in a storm. It is commonly found in the city on chain fences. The red berries are used in wreaths for decor.  

Commelina communis, Asiatic Dayflower

This cute little blue flower is a fast spreading, non native. It’s very easily removed from the garden, though it will usually come back because it’s seeds are smart and capable of lying dormant for a long time.  

Hedera helix, English Ivy

English Ivy strangling a tree

Dieee!!! Some people like to plant english ivy.. and sure if you have it properly contained and it can’t go anywhere, fine. But do not allow English Ivy to climb trees! Please! It strangles the trees and kills them, and adds a great amount of weight causing the trees to become a great threat to everything around them. If you have a tree with thick English Ivy on it, you can try cutting a section out of the vine low on the tree.

Lamium purpureum, Purple Dead Nettle

You usually see these guys in the grass popping up early in the spring. They are a quick spreading ground cover. It is a member of the mint family and it’s edible!

Oxalis stricta, Yellow Wood Sorrel

This is a very common weed which is often confused with or called clover. It is edible. It has a sour lemon flavor and is rich in vitamin C.

Phytolacca americana, Pokeweed

Everyone remembers smushing these purple berries as kids, right? Staining your hands or shoes? That was fun. But don’t eat them. They are poisonous to us, but the birds love them!

Plantago lanceolata, Narrowleaf Plantain

This weed can be a pain to pull out. It is used by herbalists for medicinal purposes.

As a kid… and sometimes now.. I would pull the stems of these and twist them in a certain way so you can shoot the blooms off at your friends.

Polygonum caespitosum, Smartweed

This is a pretty weed. It’s very invasive, though. I've used it as a pressed plant and framed it. The little flowering weeds make the best pressed plants.