Kay, thank you for such a quick answer: I originally thought it was Rosebay Willowherb but I wasn't at all sure that it had such rhubarb-red stems.

Typically, I can't find any pictures of it when young!

I've now managed to get a picture of it on the internet:
https://sites.google.com/site/gbplants101/mystery-weed

Does this turn into Rosebay Willowherb?

Rachel 101

Quite possibly.

Well, to be pedantic, no - it doesn't *turn* into anything. It either is already or it isn't ;-)

It looks very much like a willowherb or ally, doesn't quite look like rosebay, but at 3-4ft you haven't many options - only that, or great willowherb (which has hairy leaves) or purple loosestrife (and the leaves are wrong for that). Rosebay isn't actually a willowherb, although we've all always called it one.

It's certainly not Himalayan Balsam or Herb Robert!

On Apr 29, 5:36*pm, kay wrote:
Rachel 101;919385 Wrote:

Kay, thank you for such a quick answer: I originally thought it was
Rosebay Willowherb but I wasn't at all sure that it had such rhubarb-red
stems.

Typically, I can't find any pictures of it when young!

I've now managed to get a picture of it on the internet:
http://tinyurl.com/6cs9fbp

Does this turn into Rosebay Willowherb?

Quite possibly.

Well, to be pedantic, no - it doesn't *turn* into anything. It either is
already or it isn't ;-)

It looks very much like a willowherb or ally, doesn't quite look like
rosebay, but at 3-4ft you haven't many options - only that, or great
willowherb (which has hairy leaves) * or purple loosestrife (and the
leaves are wrong for that). Rosebay isn't actually a willowherb,
although we've all always called it one.

It's certainly not Himalayan Balsam or Herb Robert!

--
kay

Certainly a willow herb, get rid of it ASAP