Is this a Weed or Plant

9 years ago

This plant/weed recently appeared at our fence. It is in our neighbor's yard so we're not going to do anything to it. But we've never seen anything like this so...is it a weed or a desired plant?

Had several suggestions including Japanese Knotweed, purple aramanthus and Burgundy Hearts Redbud Tree.

This was not planted by anybody, it just began growing and it is located in an area in the yard where planting, with the exception of grass, is not allowed because telephone and gas lines run parallel

to the fence right there.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

9 years ago

Not a sucker if no tree nearby but could certainly be a tree start/seedling from a bird dropped seed :-) It is not any of the plants you list but do agree it is some sort of Prunus, perhaps a purple leaf plum seedling, Prunus cerasifera.

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Comments (8)

carol23_gw
9 years ago
It looks like suckers from a cherry tree such as Prunus virginiana 'Schubert' . Is there another tree nearby with the same color foliage ?
T Holland
Original Author
9 years ago
No cherry trees or Prunus virginiana 'Schubert' anywhere in the neighborhood at all. Only tree around this area is Elm tree about 10 to 15 feet away and spirea about 8 feet away.
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T Holland
Original Author
9 years ago
gardengal48, I think that you are right. I certainly am no gardener but descriptions and pictures, especially of leaves and "stem" I found on numerous sites my guess would be that you are correct. As I said, it isn't in our yard but next to fence in neighbor's yard. I know he did not plant it and it is in an undesirable location so I am going to guess he will remove it.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
whose fence is it .. it does need to be removed from such ... before it starts destroying the fence ... and its much easier now .. than in a few years ...

and... btw.. being a tree .. just cutting it down.. will not kill it ...

finally.. weeds are plants too .. dont be a hater .. lol ...

ken

ps: why cant my weed trees be red or purple.. lol ...
T Holland
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It was just removed by property owner. He didn't plant it, he didn't want it. Plus there was no place else to plant it.
windberry zone5a BCCanada
9 years ago
What a pity! It could grow into such a beautiful tree!
T Holland
Original Author
9 years ago
Not without a place to plant it and truly there was none. Very few trees grow in concrete or blacktop and in the tiny grassy area where it was located it would have been removed by the utility company.