ID this plant please

[mavandkaz]

Have been busy pulling ragwort in my field (luckily not a huge amount) and have come across this weed. There is quite a bit of it, and it's growing in patches.
I have googled it and found a result but thought I'd see if anyone else can ID it has the search I used only pulled a 25% match. It looks like it might eventually flower, but at the moment there's nothing, and growing about 10-20cm tall.

 

[Haniki]

I think it could be Rose Bay Willow Herb?

 

[Prancerpoos]

Another vote for rosebay willow herb.

BTW - try using Google Lens on it, that should tell you.

 

[mavandkaz]

Thanks.
That hadn't come up as an option, I suppose I will know for sure if/when it flowers.
My plant app had said red bartsia.

So far, non of the options seem to be poisonous which is at least something

 

[Burnttoast]

One of the bartsias (red I think from the downward-pointing hairs on the stem). Parasitic on grasses.

ETA it will weaken the grass - good for making wildflower meadows but if you don't want it pull it now - although it's an annual it can be persistent in the seed bank.

 

[mavandkaz]

One of the bartsias (red I think from the downward-pointing hairs on the stem). Parasitic on grasses.

ETA it will weaken the grass - good for making wildflower meadows but if you don't want it pull it now - although it's an annual it can be persistent in the seed bank.

That's what my search result was. It does seem to be ground covering/creeping. Will start pulling it when I check for ragwort although there's rather a lot of it!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Looks like Rosebay Willow-herb to me. I've had a couple of horses that loved to eat it.

 

[cauda equina]

I've had red bartsia in my field in the past but haven't noticed any this year
It doesn't seem to have caused any problems

 

[Trouper]

Not sure about the Willowherb - I have the national collection in my borders at the moment and the leaves are somewhat shinier than the photo and not so ridged. Also becomes more multi-stemmed when it gets to height.
Would need a plant identifier app. to be certain.

 

[Gloi]

It doesn't like willowherb to me either.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

looks like a type of willowherb to me too. Get the ‘picturethis’ app and it will tell you. I use it when gardening so I only pull out the weeds and not the plants!

 

[Surbie]

It looks like red bartsia to me, not willowherb. It's deeply annoying as it's so vigorous. We had a few patches in my field when I moved to the yard 3 years ago and now it's everywhere in big drifts and just starting to come up.

It does at least pull up easily.

 

[njandrews]

We had one paddock we split in two. As a result the Red Bartsia was able to overcome the grass and we had literally thousands within months. At this time of year (September) it's almost impervious to any selective weedkiller. I made a few enquiries. Cut it short before it seeds (we flailed then topped then mowed) Then seed the paddock and add some topsoil. As soon as it reappears cut it again and keep doing this till spring and then use a mixture of Grazon and Thrust when it's around 2-3" with leaves HTH