Comments on: Pinellia ternata

By: Jennifer Weiss

Jennifer Weiss — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 13:10:22 +0000

I have pinellia and goutweed!!!!

By: Laurel L

Laurel L — Thu, 25 May 2023 02:17:09 +0000

Spell check / edits/ corrections – so far it has remained isolated in one section of bed that is bordered by concrete sidewalks.

By: Laurel L

Laurel L — Thu, 25 May 2023 02:14:50 +0000

Any updates on ways to deal with this invasive devil weed? I want to sit in my garden and cry every year when I see it sprouting. I hate to keep using the Ivy killer and have removed almost all of my perennials in the bed – tossing them into the garbage.
Has anyone tried putting carpet down on the soil and covering with mulch. I am ready to give up on the bed and leave it as a mulched bed. Put planted pots on top of it. Maybe carpet, covered with plastic and covered with River rock? Or pour concrete on it and be done. Fearing it will spread but so far has dated in an area that is bordered by concrete walls.

By: Becky Robert

Becky Robert — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 20:29:26 +0000

In reply to Jeannie Sachs.

Dear Jeannie,
Sorry you inherited this stubborn plant. Good luck in your battle. Good to know planting other great garden plants is working on suppressing the pest. Thank you for sharing the love. I hope you get a chance to spot by this spring. Our daffodils are already in bloom!

Cheers,
Becky Robert
Scott Arboretum

By: Jeannie Sachs

Jeannie Sachs — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 20:18:27 +0000

Sigh…we moved to Elkins Park about two years ago from Southern New Jersey; I did not have Pinellia there. But I did have both Chameleon plant and Bishops’s weed left to me by the previous gardener. In battling those, I learned that persistence does make a difference. Also, many plants do out-compete them (hosta, low-branching hydrangea, ornamental grasses, kniphophia –and others.) I still dig and pull plenty, just the same and really wish I didn’t have to deal with them.. I hate to use sprays, so I’ll just keep after them.
PS. Scott Arboretum has always been one of my favorite places in the Delaware Valley!

By: Tina Yand

Tina Yand — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 16:06:35 +0000

I would like to grow this plant. It is a great medicinal plant. Where can I find the seeds? Thanks ! Tina

By: Susan Somerville-Hawes

Susan Somerville-Hawes — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 17:11:32 +0000

I have tried digging out and covering this monster to no avail. It has spread all over my property here outside of Baltimore. I have pollinator gardens and hate to use chemicals. Has anyone had any luck with sprays that are not poisonous chemicals.

By: Marva J J Moriarty

Marva J J Moriarty — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 20:44:07 +0000

I have been bountifully educated with your comments. My small flower bed is invaded with pinellia (not the true “green dragon”)! I just dug out the forms and placed black plastic over the area. Now I know how fruitless that is.
Will be trying the poisonous ivy spray!

By: Lars Rasmussen

Lars Rasmussen — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:25:56 +0000

Our experience here at the Arboretum has certainly been documented in earlier posts. I know that if it is growing alone in a large patch we have used a glyphosate based product, but even this takes multiple applications. Of course small amounts can be dug(carefully!) but you will probably still not get all and will need follow up weeding. You know that when volunteers want to join the garden they go through a series of classes. One of the classes I used to teach was weeds and weeding with another gardener. He would always joke that if you had Goutweed or Pinellia, the best course of action was to move! It always brought some chuckles but sometimes we feel that way! Be persistent /patient and use multiple tactics. That’s my best advise. -Lars Rasmussen
Gardener
Swarthmore College

By: Kristin

Kristin — Sat, 29 May 2021 11:13:41 +0000

I dug out huge sections of my garden with pinella- went completely under the corms, replaced the dirt with fresh soil, applied mulch and they are still coming back. I can’t keep digging up my entire garden soil. I would be interested to hear the name of this poison ivy spray that people are referencing- we avoid sprays at all cost due to other plants, honeybees, kids, pets and the environment- but this Pinella is spreading rapidly and I’ve got to control it before it takes over my entire property. Any advice would be very appreciated.