Weed? - Ask Extension
Is this a weed?
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Weed? #796634
Asked June 18, 2022, 7:00 PM EDT
Is this a weed?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for sending this question to extension. Yes this plant is a weed. This plant may be an annul, biennial or short lived perennial. It was introduced from Europe. It is an alternate host for ringspot virus, which infects sugar beets and spinach. There are several Silene species plants that it could be but I am unable to identify the species from the picture. The good news is they they are all weedy plants.
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/plant_insects/plants/silene_pratensis.html
https://michiganflora.net/species.aspx?id=782