Horsenettle...

For some reason, I wanted to call this post "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," but I really don't know why. There is no "good" about this plant. I guess you could argue that its seeds provide food for birds. Or that it gives shelter for insects. BUT, there are LOTS of plants out there with seeds for birds that don't cause so much trouble for people and horses. And LOTS of plants that support beneficial insects. I'll just grow some of them instead.





Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) is invasive. And poisonous. And painful. It is just wicked. And those vile thorns go all the way down to the soil. I think they get thickest right where you have to grab the plant to pull it out. How diabolical.





So, now that I have photo-documented this dreadful plant, I will go pull it up. Well, at least as much as I can. Its roots seem to go all the way to the center of the earth and spread throughout my entire garden. Nevertheless, I will not be daunted in my battle against this evil invader.


Have a beautiful, thorn-free day!