Favorite Plant?

Good Morning Permies!

I thought I would try to get some conversation sparked by asking a simple yet difficult question.

Personally, what is your favorite plant?

It could be perennial, it could be ornamental, it could be a weed!

Lets hear your thoughts!

I will start

My favorite plants are Box Elder (Manitoba Maple, Ash-Leaf Maple, Sugar Ash...) Trees.



They can be a cruddy looking tree, spreading by sprouts and breaking limbs in the winter. It has been useful in many different ways.

I have used it to stabilize hillsides via planting, used the wood for mulch/mushrooms/burning amongst other uses.

It can develop some visual interest in the wood via its 'flaming' reaction to Box Elder Beetles infecting the tree with a fungus.

At first I despised the trees and wished for oaks, walnuts, anything other than a Box Elder but it has grown on me so much that I really appreciate the tree.

Lacebark elm. I'm in the mountain west and not a lot can survive up here. Drought tolerant, easy enough to prune, grows pretty quick.

My favorite plant would be Ajuga.  It is so pretty with its bronze-colored leaves and blue flowers. I feel Ajuga is the perfect ground cover for a flower garden. It has been a long time since I have grown it and I am not sure if it is even available anywhere.

Its cousin Dusty Miller is better known and easily available.  I am just not a fan.

Timothy Norton wrote:I will start

My favorite plants are Box Elder (Manitoba Maple, Ash-Leaf Maple, Sugar Ash...) Trees.



They can be a cruddy looking tree, spreading by sprouts and breaking limbs in the winter. It has been useful in many different ways.

I have used it to stabilize hillsides via planting, used the wood for mulch/mushrooms/burning amongst other uses.

It can develop some visual interest in the wood via its 'flaming' reaction to Box Elder Beetles infecting the tree with a fungus.

At first I despised the trees and wished for oaks, walnuts, anything other than a Box Elder but it has grown on me so much that I really appreciate the tree.

I have a large boxelder on my property. It was starting to die when I moved in and now, 3 years hence, is mostly dead. I have come to see pros and cons in it.

Pros:

It attracts a diverse and large number of birds (we are backyard birdwatchers)

Grows quickly and readily, so theoretically could be used to quickly plant a lot of shade trees

Cons:

The wood is not useful for most things besides outdoor burning

The cool-looking red pigment in cut pieces doesn't last, fades quickly, probably as the fungus dries out

Attracts boxelder beetles which are noxious and aggressive - will colonize nearby maples if they are not controlled, try to get in your house, in my experience birds mostly don't eat them

Its little babies grow everywhere and are easily confused for poison ivy, which can be alternately anxiety-inducing or desensitizing

I don't think I have a single favorite plant or tree. There are a few I find particularly interesting, beautiful, or enjoyable...

- Boababs and dragon trees are amazing to look at
- I love being around huge tulip trees and white pine, wish I had these on my property
- Saguaros, agaves, prickly pear, yuccas, and most other cactuses and succulents, wish I lived where I could have these
- I welcome my dandelion overlords
- All the trees and plants whose fruit I like are keepers, obviously
- Gardenias are my favorite-smelling flower

Gosh, I really can't choose a favourite - there are just so many awesome plants, and they're awesome for so many reasons!

So I'll narrow it down to "fruit trees", and then say that I am awfully fond of my Italian Prune Plum. I don't tolerate a lot of sugar, and these plums are pleasant and flavourful, so I can snack on one or two as I walk up the drive past it, and not have to worry about feeling worse for it.