Weeds have different features that give them their distinct appearance. Some are small, others are large and showy, while others have fuzzy leaves and seed structures.
However, despite their soft-looking appearance, many are invaders in gardens, fields, lawns, and along roadsides.
Below, we’ll take a look at several common fuzzy-topped weeds, including their notable soft features, nativity, and expert-recommend removal methods if they become a nuisance.
1. Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
- Local Name: Common mullein or Woolly mullein
- Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Annual or Perennial: Biennial
Common mullein is a tall biennial herbaceous plant commonly found in fields, roadsides, and pastures. It produces woolly leaves and has a dense, fuzzy flowering spike.
In the first year, the biennial forms a low rosette of grayish-green velvety leaves. In the second year, it shoots up a long stalk that can reach 6-10 feet tall.
The leaves are oblong to lance-shaped, up to 12 inches long, covered with dense, soft hairs giving them a silvery-green appearance. The fuzzy spike is densely packed with soft, 5-petaled yellow flowers and covered in fine hairs.
It is native to:
- Europe
- Asia
- North Africa
Removal Methods
- Mechanical control: Hand-pulling before seed set can help eradicate the weed in loose soils. If digging is preferred, ensure that you get the entire plant from the root to prevent regrowth. Prescribed burning can be used to remove the weeds in snow-free areas. Ensure soil disturbance is minimized as it encourages flush growth.
- Chemical control: Spring applications of herbicides like picloram, aminopyralid or combinations of picloram + 2,4-D and aminopyralid + metsulfuron methyl can provide effective control of first and second-year common mullein growth.
2. Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis)
- Local Name: Horseweed or Canadian Fleabane
- Family: Asteraceae
- Annual or Perennial: Annual
Horseweed is a winter or summer annual that grows up to 2m tall. It has narrow, lance-shaped, and arranged alternately leaves that may be slightly toothed and often have fine hairs.
Horseweed also produces an erect hairy stem that grows from the basal rosette. The stem branches to form small clusters of white flower heads. These branches of white to pink flowers have a soft, fuzzy appearance and are referred to as a horse’s tail.
It is native to:
- North and Central America
Removal Methods
- Mechanical control: Pull the young plants before they develop deep roots. Shallow tillage can also kill the young seedlings.
- Cultural control: Cover cropping can help suppress weed germination and limit seed dispersal.
- Chemical control: Apply herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, paraquat, and glufosinate in fall or spring in the rosette stage for effective control.
3. Purslane Speedwell (Veronica peregrina)
- Local Name: American speedwell, Common speedwell, and Hairy purslane speedwell
- Family: Plantaginaceae
- Annual or Perennial: Annual
Purslane speedwell is an annual flowering plant about 25-30 cm tall and is a common weed of lawns, roadsides, and moist garden beds. It has low-growing, branched stems and narrow leaves with sparse hairs on the surface. The weed also produces a loose terminal raceme of white to pale blue flowers that have soft, fuzzy petals with fine hairs.
It is native to:
- North America
- South America
Removal Methods
- Mechanical control: Manually pull out the young weeds when the soil is moist.
- Cultural control: Maintain a healthy lawn through proper mowing, fertilization, and watering practices to prevent weed encroachment.
- Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides including dithiopyr, pendimethalin, or quinclorac + prodiamine to prevent weed growth. Postemergence herbicides like 2,4-D, or combinations such as 2,4-D + triclopyr, 2,4-D, dicamba + fluroxypyr, or MCPA + MCPP + dicamba can provide effective control when applied in spring or fall.
4. Cottonweed (Micropus californicus)
- Local Name: Slender cottonweed or Cotton top
- Family: Asteraceae
- Annual or Perennial: Annual
Cottonweed is an annual herb that grows about 20 inches tall. It is known for its narrow gray-green leaves and rounded, cotton, fuzzy-like flowerheads.
The plants are informally known as Q-tips due to their white flowerhead’s resemblance to cotton swabs.
It is native to:
- North America
Removal Methods
- Mechanical control: Hand-pulling can provide effective control for small infestations.
- Chemical control: Herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are recommended for removing large infestations.
5. Feathertop Grass (Pennisetum villosum)
- Local Name: Feather grass, White foxtail, and Long-style feather grass
- Family: Poaceae
- Annual or Perennial: Annual or Perennial
Feathergrass is a perennial mat-forming grass that grows about 2 feet tall. It has narrow light-green foliage and fuzzy white to light-brown flowers on arching stems that resemble delicate feathers.
Its graceful presence and furry appearance make it a popular ornamental grass for lawns and gardens. Although it’s a perennial in its native environment, it can also be grown as an annual.
It is native to:
- North-East Africa
- Arabian Peninsula
Removal Methods
- Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is only recommended for young plants. Since it’s a deep-rooted grass, repeated tillage is preferred for effective rhizome removal.
- Chemical control: Apply a broad-spectrum herbicide like glyphosate to remove the unwanted grass.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.