Can you identify this weed?

Question

I thought this was a flower so I let it grow in the garden when I moved into my house and it has taken over the flower beds, and lawn (in shady spots where the grass wasn't healthy to begin with). The root is white and thin like a hair and goes down about 1.5 feet, then below that there is a huge parsnip-like root (so if you pull it the thin part breaks and you're left with the big root that grows back at least two plants!). Any ideas what this is and how to kill it (it is mixed in with my perrenials). The pic is of it as a mature plant flowering: http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/lilith984/Weed.jpg

I live in Manitoba, Canada (I should use metric, my bad :) )

Yep, I took the picture myself a few years ago. I've been ripping the stuff out of my garden for a couple years, not even letting it flower. I've been using round-up in the areas where it isn’t next to anything, and in areas where it is, I try to cover the other plants when I am spraying near them. Sounds like that’s my only option. I'm glad to know what it is at least, though -- thanks!

Answer 1

Did you take this picture, and are you sure this is the plant you have? The plant in your photo is known as Campanula glomerata or Campanulata glomerata 'Superba'. We sell it as an ornamental perennial here in Michigan. I have never seen this growing so rampantly that it would be annoying. So you must have the perfect conditions for it.

I am thinking it could be also reseeding itself so perhaps if you deadhead them it might help.

I am sorry to say the only control other than hand removing them would be spraying them with Roundup. This stuff will kill everything so you must be careful not to get it on desirable plants if you want to keep them.

Answer 2

I'm am unable to identify it maybe because I live in Australia and it might not grow here,but I am pretty sure it is a perennial plant you have a pic of. I have not seen any actual know weed like this.
Definition of a weed, is any plant that is taking over and growing in the wrong place. For example your garden.
To remove it just use a weed killer, a systemic one that is taken into the leaves of the plants then onto the root system. As you cannot spray because its amongst your other plants, paint it on the leaves on a warm to hot day, the plant will take up the weed killer better in these conditions.

Answer 3

That's odd. The only "weed" I know of with purple flowers is chicory, but this is not it. What state do you live in? That might help us figure out what weed it is.

It also does not seem to be "Dog Violet", nor does it appear to be Creeping Charlie, both of which have purple flowers.

Answer 4

It is Campanula... Bellflower.. and yes, it does become invasive... control measures: hoe when young, pull older ones, do not let plants go to seed