We’ve long admired members of the genus Packera, of which 57 species call North America home. In the garden, however, many species become some of our worst weeds, spreading like wildfire, and choking out every small plant in their reach. One species that has risen to the top of our white-list species is the well-behaved Packera millefolium. Unfortunately, in the wild, it grows amongst the natural hybrid, Packera x memmingeri, which is an aggressive runner. Sadly, the hybrid is outcompeting the parent species, Packera millefolium. A few years ago, we took cuttings of several plants in a large population, but only one turned out to be the pure species, a clone that we’ve named Packera millefolium ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’. Our compost pile is filled with the hybrids. Our goal now is to propagate and share this amazing, well-behaved perennial species.
Is there a way to distinguish between the two in the garden environment? I think we must have the hybrid on our property in Boone. Over the past 2 years it has spread to almost every area on our one acre. While it’s pretty to see a hillside of yellow in the spring, it has become a “bully” in the garden taking over areas that I had planted early spring ephemerals. Is it best to pull it up, use a pesticide or just cut it back?