I dug up a new flower bed two weeks ago here near Boston, and sowed flower seed from a packet of mixed flower varieties. Things are starting to germinate which I recognize as species from the flower blend, but a lot of these fellows (photos below) are also coming up. I have a sneaking suspicion they're not part of the mix and that it's in fact a weed, possibly something I can't yet recognize since only the cotyledons are present for now. These seedlings are VERY tiny, about 3/16" from edge to edge -- they look larger in the photos because I magnified them so I could get a better look. I suspect they're about 5-7 days old. I'm struck by their copper-red color. Any thoughts as to what plant this might be? I'm sure I'll know more once the real leaves develop.


I'm not entirely positive the seedling with the larger leaves (real leaves) (below) is the same plant, but I think it is.

Some type of tree seedling I think.

Crabapple?

Interesting thought. Looking at these extremely tiny seedlings (3/16" from tip to tip; they just look bigger in the photo because I blew them up) I would never think of them tree seedlings, but I guess even trees start out small. I have a feeling that these come from very small seeds. Don't know.

Hi @SF2Bos

Taking into account the probable size, I would lean toward the Amaranths. There are a number of species in that genus. Weeds are a possibility, but there are also some other possibilities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

could be something like pigweed ' Amaranthus retroflexus a rude weed

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nu...

https://weedecology.css.cornel...

Amaranths also include ornamental and edible plants

https://www.strictlymedicinals...

http://1greengeneration.elemen...

They also reminded me of amaranthus

#3 isn't the same type of plant. It looks like a purslane.

THANK YOU! Yes, Amaranth: I have a feeling we're going in the right direction with that. I browsed around the web and couldn't quite find any amaranths seedlings with such distinctly red cotyledons, but it does seem that once the first true leaves appear on many Amaranthus species, they do have a strong reddish tinge around the periphery.

I wonder what environmental conditions encourage cotyledons that could take on either a green or reddish cast to take on that purple-red color.

Here in eastern Massachusetts we've had so much rain and drizzle and no sun since Saturday that hardly any of the seedlings in this garden have budged much in size.