They look like Rudbeckia fulgida (Goldsturm) seedlings.

Yes they do.

Hmm, odd. I never had Goldsturm in my garden, anywhere, and my neighbors don't either. I suppose birds could have transported seeds there, but why haven't they done anything all season? They look the same as they did in May!

Okay, thanks for the help. I think I'm going to pull them. Even if they are good plants, they're not doing anything so no loss there. Not sure I want Goldsturm in my garden anyway, from what I've heard. And I sow my annual rudbeckias every winter so I'll just plant new ones next year.

Besides, after 25 years of gardening I really do need to learn that I don't have to save EVERY seedling in the garden...

Thanks!
:)
Dee

P.S. I am, however, happy that I did at least somewhat correctly identify them! Not Goldsturm exactly, but rudbeckia. Yay! Thank you!

Perhaps they are Erigeron annuus/Fleabane.

Just to clear up what may be a misapprehension, Goldsturm is not synonymous with Rudbeckia fulgida. It’s just one cultivar of one subspecies of R fulgida. So the seedlings may well be Rudbecka fulgida but they aren’t necessarily Goldsturm. I don’t know why you’d get rid of them given that they’re healthy plants in an informal looking spot with other self sowers. Also they’re saving you the effort of sowing annuals. I’d at least wait until they flower to see if they’re worth keeping.

Thanks for the further input!

There are a few reasons I think I'll get rid of them. One, this isn't MEANT to be an informal spot, lol! But the bed has been neglected and gotten overgrown, and I'm trying to reclaim it. I do leave certain reseeders in for fillers, but this bed has gotten full of them and I need to remove many of them to put in other plants.

Two, they aren't doing anything. Like I said, they look exactly as they did in May. I have very little sun in my garden and want to fill it with plants I want and plants that perform. If they are perennial rudbeckia they should have flowered this year, no?

Three, while I will remove most of them, something tells me they'll be back and I'll have another opportunity to decide whether to keep them or not! The photo shows about one square foot of a bed that is at least 20 by 10 feet, and there are MANY of these seedlings, so some will certainly be missed, or roots will be left, etc. So I'm sure there will be some next year too!

And actually, when it comes down to it, because I do have such a hard time ripping out seedlings, I'll probably end up replanting one or two in a suitable spot and see what happens....

Thank you everyone. As always, your input is much appreciated!
:)
Dee

If anyone can let me know whether I've been nurturing a weed I'd appreciate it.

==>> the word weed.. has many definitions ...

anything you dont like.. is a weed .. in your garden ...

anything you didnt plant is usually a weed .. in my experience.. very few things that self seed themselves into what i defined as my garden .. was of any value.. making them weeds ... [and to be clear.. i didnt collect or have a 'natives' garden ..]

and anything that suddenly sprouted 100 versions of itself.. for no known reason.. was also called a weed ..

that said.. there is no reason not to just pull out 98 of the 100 ... and see what becomes of the others ...

odds are.. now that they are in your yard.. you will probably have 100 again next spring anyway.. lol .. [and youll wonder how something that didnt flower or seed replicated itself again.. lol]

keep us posted if you do keep a couple...

ken

oh.. and if anyone asks.. you say ... i was experimenting ... lol ... and if they dont buy that noise.. point at something small near the ground.. and when they bend over.. give them a swift kick in the behind.. and tell them to get out of your garden.. and dont come back ... rather problematic.. if its hubby or mom ... or MIL ... lol [though FIL/dad might give you a high five on the way out... rotflmbo ....]

ken

Ken, you made me laugh out loud! Well, with that second post at least lol. Although I have to say I chuckled at this too:

"...and youll wonder how something that didnt flower or seed replicated itself again.. lol..."

I've kinda given up wondering about that lol. Actually I now accept it as inevitable fact. Which is why I know I'll have more next year!

:)
Dee