Willowherbs: Weeds which might, actually, have a use!

Well, I never thought I would say these words, but the other day I found a Willowherb which was, for once, more than just a weed.

Here it is:

Can you see all those scoopy round holes in the leaves?

Those are from Leaf Cutter Bees, a subject about which I have written, some years back: solitary bees who replicate by burying their eggs individually, inside tidy little cocoons made from circles cut from leaves: each egg gets a store of pollen, and a secure little pod in which to grow and develop, safe from predators.

Previously, I have noticed this damage mostly on Rose leaves: occasionally on other garden plants, but mostly on Roses.

So it was quite a surprise to find a nasty old Willowherb showing the same holes in the leaves.

Alas, this damage is only cosmetic and does not harm the plant, so I had to weed out the Willowherb anyway... but it's nice to know that someone finds them useful!

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