Defining a Weed

What is a weed? This is a question that has been going around our place for awhile. As we have learned more about the plants we grow and those which are native to our area, the answer to this question has become less and less clear.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a weed this way: a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially : one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.

Using this definition a weed could be any plant, from the flowers growing wild in a field to the cucumber vine coming over your fence. It all depends on how you want to categorize a plant. As we have been learning more about different plants we have started to re-categorize our common ‘weeds’. For instance we have burdock growing in the backyard, not because we planted it, but because it came with the house and I have been unsuccessful in removing it. Then this year we bought Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use. Did you know burdock is a great herb to treat a variety of skin conditions, from acne to eczema! It is also part of a Native American anticancer formula called Essiac. Wow! In this case knowledge really is power, and the knowledge that burdock is a very beneficial herb has changed my view of this plant from stubborn weed to awesome plant and I’ve stopped trying to remove it.

Another example is the common dandelion. Did you know the root can be used as a liver tonic? The leaf is commonly used in food dishes in Europe and the Mediterranean, and even the flower is used as a food and medicinally.

So, has any of this knowledge changed how you look at the dandelions in your yard? If you want to learn more about the beneficial uses these and other ‘weeds’ I highly recommend getting Rosemary Gladstar’s book.

Happy Gardening!