by Mary Free, Extension Master Gardener
In casual conversation, you might hear this term used to describe a person who is easily cheated or deceived, but in botany, it describes a shoot originating underground from the root or stem of a plant; what is it?
This shoot of new growth emerges at the root or base of the plant, unlike upright water sprouts that emerge off of a tree trunk or branch. These shoots can form colonies or thickets and is a way that shrubs, like Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush) and Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire) propagate. They are also one way that vines, like Bignonia capreolata (cross-vine), spread rapidly. To manage spread, remove these shoots on a regular basis with hand pruners, cutting as close to the base as possible so they do not resprout. Click here to learn more.
Photo © Mary Free
Photo © Elaine Mills
