It is easily recognized by the stiff spines on the stems and leaves and pink to purple tubular flowers surrounded by spine-tipped bracts. 

Bull Thistle Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Asteraceae
• Genus: Cirsium
• Species: Cirsium vulgare
• Varieties: Cirsium vulgare var. litorale
• Common Names: Common thistle, Bur thistle, Bird thistle, Button thistle, Blue thistle, Black thistle, Spear thistle, Scotch thistle, and Bank thistle.

Nativity and Distribution

Bull thistle is native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. Today, it can also be found in:

• North America
• South America
• South Africa
• Australia
• New Zealand

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Elliptical basal leaves and lance-shaped stem leaves
• Fruits: Small achenes 5 mm long with feathery pappus
• Stems: Erect, spiny, branching, green stems 
• Flowers: Solitary purple flower surrounded by spiny bracts
• Roots: Tap root system

Cirsium vulgare is a biennial and occasionally a perennial herbaceous plant 90-210 cm tall. It is recognizable by the stiff spines on the stems and leaves and purple tubular flowers surrounded by spine-tipped bracts. 

The stems are winged, branched, spiny, about 90-210 cm, and covered in dense hairs. Bull thistle produces two sets of leaves in its two-year life cycle. 

In the first year, it produces deeply lobed, spiny basal rosette leaves about 65 cm wide. In the second year, the stem bolts up to about 2 metres with lanceolate and alternate leaves. The upper leaves, about 30 cm long, have stiff spines on the edges, stiff hairs on the upper side, and soft white hairs on the underside. 

Bull thistle produces purple flower heads that develop on the apex of the stem. They can be solitary or in groups of  2-3 flowerheads. The flower head is 2.5 cm long and 3-5 cm wide and has several disc florets. Each flower is surrounded by stiff narrow bracts with yellow tips. 

The seeds are oblong, straw-coloured, about 2.5-5 mm long with feather-like bristles at the tip.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Biennial 
• Seeds: A single plant can produce between 5,000 to 50,000 seeds
• Climate: Temperate and warm-temperate subtropical climate zones
• Dispersal: Animals, wind, and contaminated machinery or produce

Bull thistle behaves mainly as a biennial, thriving in sunny open areas. It is a prolific seed producer with a single flower head producing about 40-300 seeds. A single plant produces a minimum of 5,000 seeds with the vigorous types producing close to 50,000 seeds. 

Most of the seeds produced are dispersed near the parent plant and hence the dense weed infestations typically witnessed in most affected areas. A smaller percentage of the seeds are moved by wind, animals, vehicles, and farming equipment, and contaminated produce like crop seeds and hay. 

Bull thistle seeds have a high germination rate of 95% on shallow soil and up to 1-2 inches beneath the soil surface. Seeds buried at a depth of 5 inches may remain viable for three years. 

Similar Plants

• Cirsium undulatum
• Cirsium flodmanii
• Cirsium arvense
• Cirsium brevistylum
• Silybum marianum

Uses

1. Young leaves and shoots harvested in the early stages can be consumed in salads and the young stems and roots as cooked vegetables.
2. It is a high-value nectar plant for the honey industry.
3. It was used as a medicinal plant for haemorrhoids, poor digestion, and rheumatic joints. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

While C. vulgare is an important nectar plant and food source for a variety of bees, butterflies, and birds, it is also a serious weed in agricultural farms. It competes for important resources, reducing the quantity of yield for grain and horticultural produce. 

The spiny nature of the weed also reduces the quality of produce for products like hay, grain, and wool, leading to economic losses. 

As a weed of pastures, bull thistle reduces grazing areas, inhibits livestock movement, and causes injury. 

Due to its prolific seed production and high infestation rate, it can quickly dominate areas and outcompete native vegetation. Bull thistle can grow in a variety of soils and weather conditions.

It is mostly found in forest verges, tree plantations, riparian areas, pastures, roadsides, and other disturbed areas.

Cirsium vulgare can also harm human beings. In case of contact with rosettes or mature plants, it can cause contact dermatitis or puncture wounds. 

When located on roadsides, large plants may decrease visibility and potentially lead to dangerous road accidents. Bull thistle plants are imposing and may also impede movement to areas where they border.

Control

• Cultural control: Grazing control and good turf management
• Mechanical control: Hand pulling, mowing, tillage, and cutting
• Chemical control: Herbicides like 2,4-D, Dicamba, and aminopyralid

The best control measure for bull thistle is prevention. Avoid soil and hay from other areas that may spread the weed on your property. 

If a small infestation has already occurred, hand-pulling and tillage can help control the spread, but only if done before the reproduction stages. Repeated mowing and slashing can also be effective if done before flowering.

Grazing management (moving animals from area to area in a planned sequence) combined with planting competitive and vigorous pastures has also been shown to limit the establishment of the weed. 

For larger infestations, chemical herbicides may be the best control measure. The herbicides indicated for bull thistle include 2,4-D, Dicamba, aminopyralid, picloram, MCPA, and glyphosate. Apply to the rosettes in autumn or the spring before they bolt. 

Many biological agents including weevils like Trichosirocalus horridus and fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum have been applied for Cirsium vulgare with little success. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Let’s explore the top 20 most common weeds you would find in the great State of Texas, their characteristics for easier identification, and the best eradication methods. 

1. Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule)

• Local Name: Henbit
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Henbit is a winter annual weed that is mostly found in Central Texas and other parts of the state. The low-growing plant can grow 10-25 cm tall. 

It can be easily identified by its soft and hairy greenish-purple stems, deeply-veined rounded leaves, and purple blooms. 

It is a common weed of lawns, pastures, crop fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• North Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Trimming down the plants and hand-pulling the remaining plant fragments in spring can help eradicate henbit infestations.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides like prodiamine, pendimethalin, isoxaben, and dithiopyr by mid-September for effective control. Postemergence herbicides indicated for henbit include 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, and, fluroxypyr.  

2. Mustang Grape (Vitis mustangensis)

• Local Name: Mustang grape
• Family: Vitaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Mustang grape is a woody perennial that can be found in most counties in Texas. It can be recognized by its heart-shaped leaves with white velvety undersides and clusters of 2 cm wide dark purple berries. 

The Mustang grape can grow in any type of soil and vines cover fences, trees, shrubs, and other objects, sometimes killing entire populations of native vegetation. 

It is native to: 

• Texas
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Louisiana
• Oklahoma

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Cutting and uprooting the plants from the roots is a viable option for small infestations. Burning can also help eradicate the weed if the plant is not twining on other desirable vegetation. 
• Chemical control: Apply products with active ingredients like dithiopyr and glyphosate on exposed stumps.

3. Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

• Local Name: Purple nutsedge
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Nutsedge is a common perennial weed that can grow up to 60 cm tall. It has a triangular stem in cross-section and linear grass-like leaves with a prominent midrib. 

It reproduces by tubers and rhizomes, creating a vast underground network that makes it difficult to eradicate.

Purple nutsedge is mostly found in pastures, lawns, crop fields, riverbanks, fallow lang, irrigation channels, and waste areas.

It is native to:

• India 
• Australia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Consistent cultivation will wear out the tuber resources preventing re-growth. 
• Cultural control: Practices like mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, and soil solarization can help control nutsedge infestations. 
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides like terbacil, bromacil, or carbamate products. Postemergence herbicides containing glyphosate, 2,4-D, or amitrole can also help control nutsedge.

4. Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)

• Local Name: Silver-leaved nightshade
• Family: Solanaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Silverleaf nightshade is a common perennial weed 30-90 cm tall. It has silvery fuzz on its prickly stems and lance-shaped leaves and also produces blue to violet flowers with yellow stamens. 

Its deep root system and drought resistance abilities make it a highly persistent weed that can be found throughout Texas. It is a common weed of crop fields, roadsides, prairies, and open woods. 

It is native to:

• Southwestern United States
• Mexico
• South America

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pull small plants or slash the weeds once the green shoots sprout.
• Chemical control: Herbicides like glyphosate, 2,4-D, + picloram or fluroxypyr.

5. Pigweed (Amaranthus palmeri)

• Local Name: Palmer pigweed and Palmer amaranth
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Palmer pigweed is among the common weeds in the Pigweed family found in Texas. The summer annual is characterized by its reddish stems and oval-shaped green leaves.

As a prolific seed producer, pigweed can invade new areas quickly. It is now considered one of the most troublesome weeds in row crop fields in areas like Rio Grande Valley, High Plains, and Central Texas. The most affected crops include corn, cotton, sweet potato, and sorghum. 

It is native to:

• Southern United States
• Northern Mexico

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling, tillage, or mowing is effective depending on the degree of weed infestation.
• Cultural control: Cover cropping with plants such as hairy vetch or cereal rye can significantly reduce pigweed growth.
• Chemical control: There are herbicides indicated for different crops including glyphosate, 2,4-D, and dicamba but due to its high herbicide resistance, it’s best to consult a local extension expert. 

6. Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)

• Local Name: Johnsongrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Johnsongrass is a fast-growing perennial grass weed that reaches up to 8 feet tall. The leaves can grow about 60 cm and have a distinct whitish midrib. 

The grass spreads through its underground rhizomes with some extending over 60 meters in different directions across the ground. Due to its fast and extensive growth, it is considered one of the most troublesome weeds in agricultural and landscaping systems.

It is native to:

• The Mediterranean Region

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Repeated tillage and close mowing prevent seed production and rhizome growth and spread. Tillage can also expose the rhizomes to winter kill, helping eradicate the weed.
• Cultural control: Grazing livestock and crop rotation can help reduce the grass population.
• Chemical control: Various herbicides are indicated for johnsongrass including prodiamine, glyphosate, and ALS inhibitors. However, some variations have shown resistance to popular brands like Roundup (which contains glyphosate). It’s best to consult a local extension expert on the best herbicide product for johnsongrass control. 

7. Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Common purslane
• Family: Portulacaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Purslane is an annual weed that grows in dense mounds around spring and summer throughout Texas. It is easily recognized by its smooth and reddish prostrate stems, succulent leaves, and cup-shaped blooms.

Although it’s an edible plant, common purslane is considered a weed due to its aggressive growth, high seed production, and prolonged dormancy. Purslane is a weed of lawns, crop fields, and parks.

It is native to:

• North Africa
• Middle East
• India

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Mulching and soil solarization can help kill the weeds and the seeds, preventing further growth and spread. 
• Chemical control: Apply preemergent herbicides containing pendimethalin, dithiopyr, or oryzalin. Postemergent herbicides indicated for purslane include 2,4-D, MCPP, sulfentrazone, or dicamba. 

8. Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum)

• Local Name: Late thoroughwort and Late-flowering thoroughwort
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Late Boneset is a large fall-blooming perennial about 1-2m tall. Its notable features include its ovate leaves with serrated margins and clusters of small white fuzzy flowers. 

Despite its value as a pollinator plant, late boneset is considered an aggressive weed due to its ability to thrive in diverse habitats, rapid growth, and difficulty in controlling it once it’s established.

It’s a common weed of pastures, roadsides, forest edges, and landscaping settings.

It is native to:

• Eastern United States

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling the plants from the roots before they flower and seed can help control the weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing 2,4-D.

9. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

• Local Name:  Bull thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial

Bull thistle is a biennial herb that grows up to 1.8m tall. It is easily recognized by its prickly dark green leaves and stems and solitary purple flowerheads clustered at the top of the branches. 

The weed is a prolific seed producer, quickly colonizing almost any type of disturbed area. It is also highly competitive and can choke out native vegetation. Bull thistle is a common weed of pastures, meadows, riverbanks, fields, and wastelands.

It is native to:

• North Africa
• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or cutting the plant’s roots below the surface and revegating the areas will eradicate and keep away the tenacious weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing triclopyr, picloram, glyphosate, or dicamba for effective bull thistle control.

10. White Mouth Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

• Local Name: Slender dayflower or widow’s tears
• Family: Commelinaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White mouth dayflower is a perennial wildflower 60-80cm tall. It produces bright green, lance-linear leaves and two-petaled blue flowers with a smaller white petal that resembles a mouth. 

Slender dayflower is a common weed in gardens, woodlands, dry sand prairies, scrub habitats, and other disturbed areas.

It is native to:

• North America
• South America
• Africa
• Western Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or tillage are effective methods for small infestations.
• Chemical control: Apply products containing sulfentrazone + cloransulam-methyl. The weed is known to exhibit herbicide resistance, therefore, consulting a local extension expert is recommended.

11. Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

• Local Name: Annual ragweed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Common ragweed is an annual weed that grows up to 1.5m tall. It has upright, slender stems and deeply lobed leaves with a fern-like appearance and greenish-white inconspicuous flowers.

It is a common weed of agricultural fields, gardens, waste areas, waterways, and floodplains.

It is native to: 

• North America
• Central America

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand weeding and slashing can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Plant the red clover in field crops to suppress annual ragweed.
• Chemical control: Apply mesotrione, flumioxazin, or metribuzin to prevent growth. Postemergence herbicides include  2,4-D, metsulfuron-methyl, paraquat, imazapic, and dicamba.  

12. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Local Name: Dandelion, Common dandelion
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Dandelion is a common perennial broadleaf weed that thrives in the sunny regions of Texas. It produces dense mats of basal leaves, hollow stems, and yellow blooms. 

It is a common weed of lawns, gardens, golf courses, athletics fields, roadsides, meadows, pastures, and other disturbed sites. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: A combination of mulch and landscape fabric can block plant growth.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides containing dithiopyr or isoxaben in the soil to prevent germination. Postemergence herbicides indicated for dandelion control include glyphosate, triclopyr, dicamba, mecoprop, and MCPA. 

13. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Common chickweed, Birdweed, and Starweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Chickweed is a cool-season weed about 30-45 cm tall. It is commonly identified by its hairy sprawling stems, broad oval-shaped leaves, and small white star-shaped flowers.

While it may be a beneficial plant because of its edible leaves, stems, and flowers it is also considered a weed in lawns, gardens, farmlands, grasslands, and waste areas. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• North Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and cultivation can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Mulching will reduce seed germination and establishment in gardens while maintaining a thick vigorous lawn can control chickweed infestation in turf.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides containing prodiamine, pendimethalin, dithiopyr, and isoxaben in late fall or early winter. Postemergence herbicides containing glyphosate, dicamba, triclopyr, or diquat can be applied in turf lawns, landscapes, and non-planted areas.

14. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)

• Local Name: Bluegrass, Annual blue
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Poa annua is among the top invasive weeds in Texas. The clump-forming grass has vivid green, leaf blades, distinct white flowerheads, and stems that can reach a height of 25 cm.  

It is a common weed of lawns, farmlands, and other turfgrass areas where it forms unsightly brown patches in hot weather. Due to its prolific seed production and prolonged dormancy abilities, it can be a difficult weed to eradicate. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Frequent hand-pulling or hoeing can help control bluegrass infestations. The empty spots should be overseeded to grow competitive turfgrass against the weed.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides like prodiamine, dithiopyr, oryzalin, and benefin in early fall and the following early spring. Different postemergence herbicides are recommended for different grasses, therefore it’s best to consult a local expert. Alternatively, apply the non-selective glyphosate and replant the desired turfgrass.

15. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

• Local Name: American pokeweed and Common Pokeweed
• Family: Phytolacacceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Pokeweed is a perennial shrub about 3m tall. Apart from its towering height, you can also identify it by its reddish-purple stems and hanging clusters of dark purple to black berries. 

It is a common weed in the eastern part of Texas in farmlands, meadows, fencerows, and waste areas.

It is native to:

• North, Central, West, and Southern United States 

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is effective for small plants while digging, repeated cutting under the root crown, and tillage can provide better results for established plants.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing dicamba, 2,4-D, and glyphosate for large pokeweed infestations.

16. Southern Dewberry (Rubus trivialis)

• Local Name: Southern Dewberry, Dewberry, and Blackberry
• Family: Rosaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Southern dewberry is a perennial low-growing shrub that can grow up to 90 cm with a spread of about 90-180 cm. It is easily recognizable by its hispid stems, starlike-shaped leaves with teeth on the edges, and showy white flowers.

The weed can be located in the east through central Texas in fields, thickets, roadsides, fencerows, and other disturbed areas.

It is native to:

• Eastern and Southeastern United States
• Mexico

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Pull out the plants at the seedling or low-growing stage. Deep tillage is also required to remove all root fragments. 
• Cultural control: Lay a thick layer of black mulch, straw, or sawdust in winter or spring on the area to prevent germination.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing metsulfuron or triclopyr in the fall for effective control.

17. Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Name: Hairy crabgrass or hairy finger-grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Crabgrass is a common annual grass weed that is hard to miss in almost every landscape or turfgrass. It has coarse yellowish-green leaf blades that are grass-like, making it hard to identify in its initial growth stage. 

Once the grass is mature, the leaves become lighter and wider, creating an unsightly contrast to the turfgrass. Crabgrass can be found throughout Texas including North Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Big Bend.

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Uproot or dig the grass using a weeding tool to get rid of the grass weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply a preemergence herbicide containing prodiamine in early spring or postemergence products containing quinclorac or mesotrione such as Tenacity in the summer.

18. Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)

• Local Name: White crownbeard, Iceweed, and Richweed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial and Perennial 

Frostweed is a perennial herb that can grow up to 2m tall. It produces soft oval to lanceolate leaves and clusters of white flowers at the end of the stems. Frostweed is also a beneficial plant for butterflies and bees. 

It is a common weed in many parts of Texas and is mostly found in thickets and the edges of woodlands. 

It is native to:

• Southeastern United States

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Pull or dig the young plants from the roots to prevent establishment.
• Cultural control: Lay a thick layer of mulch, sawdust, or landscape fabric on the area to inhibit seed germination.

19. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: Clover or Dutch clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

White clover is a perennial herb about 15 cm tall. The low-growing plant forms dense mats with stems creeping up to 7 inches in a year. It is also easily identified by its trifoliate leaves and flowerheads with white florets that also bear a pink to cream hue in maturity. 

While it is considered a valuable forage crop, clover can also be a persistent weed in lawns, gardens, vineyards, pastures, meadows, and roadsides.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Central Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or cultivation can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Lay a thick layer of mulch or landscape fabric to prevent seedling establishment.
• Chemical control: Apply a herbicide containing glyphosate at the seedling stage for effective control of white clover.

20. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

• Local Name: Eastern poison ivy or Poison oak
• Family: Anacardiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Poison ivy is a perennial weed that can grow as an upright or trailing shrub about 1.8 m high, or a woody vine 60-150 cm tall. It is easily identified by its compound leaflets with the middle leaflet more prominent than the other outer two. 

The weed grows throughout Texas and can be located in gardens, lawns, riverbanks, woodland edges, roadsides, valleys, fencerows, and waste areas.

It is native to:

• United States 
• Canada

Removal Methods

• Mechanical methods: Hand-pulling or repeated mowing can control small poison ivy infestations.
• Chemical control: Spray glyphosate herbicide directly on the plants or apply the herbicide on freshly cut stumps to effectively eradicate poison ivy.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post 20 Most Common Weeds in Texas appeared first on InsightWeeds.

These weeds are a menace, whether encroaching on your lawn, garden, crop fields, roadsides, or other landscapes. 

To fight against these weeds, you must first understand what you are dealing with. 

Here is a list of the most common weeds in Kentucky, identifying features and the various techniques for eliminating them. 

1. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) 

• Local Name: Garlic mustard 
• Family:  Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Short-lived perennial or biennial 

Garlic mustard (jack-by-the-hedge or poor man’s mustard) is a herbaceous plant that grows to 0.6-1.1m tall. The plant resembles mustard and releases a characteristic garlic odor when crushed, hence the local name. 

In its first year of germination, it produces green rosette leaves, which are heart-shaped and about 2.5-15.2cm. In the second year, leaves start growing up the stem, taking on a more triangular shape and a strongly toothed margin. 

Garlic mustard produces tiny white flowers that grow in clusters at the stem tip. The plant also bears a long, slender green fruit pod containing many small, shiny black seeds. 

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Central and Western Asia 
• Pakistan
• China
• Northwestern Africa (Morocco, Liberia)
• British Isles 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling can be effective when dealing with young plants and when the soil is moist. You can also eradicate larger patches by cutting the stems to the ground before the plant seeds. 
• Natural control: Natural remedies like boiling water, soap & vinegar solution, and a weed flame torch can help eradicate the weed. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using selective herbicides like Bentazon and Acifluorfen or non-selective herbicides like Glyphosate. 

2. Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

• Local Name: Chicory, coffee-weed, Blue daisy
• Family:  Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Common chicory is an erect, herbaceous plant that grows 1-1.5 meters tall. Its rigid, branching hairy stems are hollow and produce a milky sap. 

Cichorium intybus has stalked, lanceolate leaves measuring (7.5-32cm long and 2-8cm wide. 

Basal leaves grow in a rosette pattern and are hairy with pointed lobes and shallowly toothed margins, while upper leaves are small, alternate, and slightly toothed. 

The plant has showy, sky-blue to purplish flower heads, ray florets, and square-shaped petals with notched tips. The flowers open in the morning (before sunrise) and then close in the afternoon. 

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Western Asia
• North Africa 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and digging with gardening tools are very effective at controlling chicory, especially when dealing with young plants. Regular mowing or deep tillage can also contain the plant.  
• Chemical control: Large infestations can be eradicated using herbicides containing Dicamba, 2,4-D, clopyralid, Triclopyr, Fluroxypyr, and Aminopyralid. 

NOTE: Chicory is a desirable forage crop for livestock. Therefore, grazing can also control the plant, but it is not a permanent solution as it will regrow after grazing. 

3. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

• Local Name: Bull thistle 
• Family:  Asteraceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual (or biennial) 

Bull thistle (spear thistle or common thistle) is an erect-growing plant that can reach 1-1.5m in height. It produces spiny-winged stems that are heavily branched in the upper parts. 

Cirsium vulgare has dark green, spear-shaped leaves that are deeply lobed, with stiff hairs on the upper surface, soft hair on the underside, and stout, needle-like spines along the margin. 

The basal leaves are large (up to 30cm long) and form a rosette pattern. 

Bull thistle produces fragrant, pinkish-purple (sometimes white) flowers at the tip of the stems. The flower heads are shaped like gumdrops and covered with spiny bracts. 

The plant also bears one-seeded achenes containing several seeds (a single plant can produce 5,000 – 50,000 seeds). The seeds have plume-like hairs and can be dispersed by wind over a long distance. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Northern Africa
• Western Asia
• Pakistan 
• China 

However, it has been naturalized in several regions, including the USA, Canada, South America, the Pacific Islands, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: Digging (gardening tools), close cutting, cultivation, and tillage are very effective at controlling bull thistle. Mowing is, however, not effective, as the plant can produce new shoots from the basal buds. 
• Chemical control: Bull thistle can be eradicated with herbicides like Dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPA, Picloram, and Clopyralid at the rosette growth stage. Budding plants can also be sprayed with Chlorsulfuron or Metsulfuron. 
• Cultural control: Good grazing management (avoiding heavy grazing) can prevent bull thistle encroachment in pastures. Livestock can also graze on bull thistle plants, preventing their spread. 

4. Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) 

• Local Name: Annual ragweed, short ragweed
• Family:  Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual  

Common ragweed (annual ragweed, short ragweed, low ragweed, or hay fever weed) is a summer annual plant that can grow up to 1.2m tall. 

The plant as purplish stems that are heavily branched and covered with soft, white hairs. 

It has green, fern-like leaves that are deeply lobbed, pinnate, and covered with soft hairs. Leaves on the bottom portion of the stem are alternately arranged, while those on the upper sections are opposite. 

The plant bears inconspicuous yellowish-white flowers that form in clusters on terminal branches. The flowers produce massive amounts of pollen, responsible for the high cases of hay fever in Kentucky.

It is native to:

• USA 
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America 
• Caribbean
• Cuba 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: When dealing with young plants, hand pulling and digging effectively eradicate ragweed. The weed can also be controlled by cultivation and aggressive tillage. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated with herbicides like 2,4-D, Glyphosate, Dicamba, Clopyralid, Flumioxazin, Glufosinate, Cloransulam, and Atrazine. The herbicide choice will depend on the plant’s location and growth stage. 
• Cultural control: Ragweed can be controlled or prevented with techniques like regular mowing, crop rotation, growing of aggressive cover crops, mulching, and shading. 
• Biological control: Biological solutions for ragweed include ground common beetles and ragweed leaf beetles. However, biological solutions are not very widespread. 

5. Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

• Local Name: Nutsedge, Field nutsedge, or yellow nutgrass
• Family:  Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Yellow nutsedge is a perennial (sometimes annual) plant in the sedge (not grass) family that can grow to 90cm tall. It has solitary, triangular-shaped stems that grow from a tuber.

The plant has yellow-green, grass-like leaves with a smooth, shiny (waxy) upper surface, prominent midrib, and long attenuated tips. 

The leaves are large (0.5 inches wide and 12-35 inches long) and emerge from the base of the plant. 

Yellow nutsedge produces golden-yellow seed heads at the tip of the stems, each inflorescence containing about 1,500 viable seeds. 

In addition to the numerous seeds, the plant reproduces via rhizomes, making it very aggressive. 

It is native to:

• North America
• South America
• Southern Europe
• Africa

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: For small infestations, hand-pulling can be an effective solution. However, the entire plant (including the roots) must be removed lest it regerminates. 
• Chemical control: Yellow nutsedge is best controlled by chemical herbicides like Sulfentrazone and Halosulfuron, Mesotrione, and Imazosulfuron. 
• Cultural control: Techniques like healthy lawn management, regular mowing, fertilization, and mulching can control yellow nutsedge grass in lawns. 

NOTE: Due to the deep rhizomatous root systems, tilling and cultivation are not recommended control practices. These can break up and spread the rhizomes in the soil, causing aggressive germination of new shoots. 

6. Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) 

• Local Name: Little hogweed 
• Family:  Portulacaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual (Perennial in some regions)

Common purslane is a succulent plant that grows to heights of about 40cm. It has smooth, reddish stems (green in young plants) that are mostly prostrate, forming a thick, wide mat on the ground. 

It has succulent glossy leaves alternately or oppositely arranged and clustered on the stems at the tips or joints. 

The leaves are paddle-shaped, green in color (with marron tinges), with an obtuse apex and entire margin, and range in size from 40-60mm long and 15-25mm wide. 

The plant produces yellow flowers with five (occasionally four) notched petals and several yellow stamens. The flowers are borne individually at the tip of the stems, in the middle of leaf clusters. 

Portulaca oleracea is native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India. However, it is widely distributed in several regions worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling can be effective when the plants are young (before they form tap roots). The entire plant must be removed and disposed of lest it take root again.
• Chemical control: Chemical herbicides such as dicamba, 2,4-D, mesotrione, isoxaben, indaziflam, carfentrazone, atrazine, oxyfluorfen, diuron, and Fluroxypyr are very effective at eradicating common purslane. 

7. Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)

• Local Name: Queen Anne’s Lace
• Family:  
• Annual or Perennial: Short-lived perennial; biennial 

Wild carrot (Queen Anne’s lace, bird’s nest, bishop’s lace, or European wild carrot) is an herbaceous plant that grows 30-120cm tall. 

It has erect, green stems that branch from a single base and are covered with coarse hairs. 

It has finely divided fern-like leaves (with a lacy design) but with an overall triangular shape. Lower leaves are larger and have long petioles, while upper leaves are smaller and have short stalks. 

Wild carrots produce clusters of conspicuous, white, round flowers with a lacy appearance. Occasionally, a pink, red, or purple flower blooms in the middle of the white inflorescence. 

The plant’s root tubers are similar to those of true carrots. They are edible when the plant is young but become fibrous and woody as it matures, making them tough to consume. 

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Southwestern Asian 
• Northern Africa 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: You can control small infestations by hand-pulling or digging the plant out of the soil. For large infestations, regular mowing and repeated tillage before seeding can control the plant and eventually deplete its seed bank.
• Chemical control: Herbicides like dicamba, Glyphosate, 2,4-D, MCPA, Picloram, Chlorsulfuron, Dichlorprop, Hexazinone, and Imazapyr can eradicate Daucus carota. 

8. Spiny Amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) 

• Local Name: pigweed 
• Family:  Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Spiny amaranth (spiny pigweed, thorny amaranth, or prickly amaranth) is an erect-growing plant that can grow to 100cm tall. 

It has heavily branched, bushy, green to reddish stems, with strong, swollen spines growing from the base of the leaf stalks. 

The plant has simple, alternately arranged leaves that are egg- to diamond-shaped and measure 2.5-7.5cm long by 1-2.5cm wide. The leaf blades have a wide base, acute apex, and entire margin. 

Spiny amaranth produces a dense inflorescence of small, green flowers with no petals and five dried-up sepals. 

The flowers are unisexual, with female flowers forming at the base of the flower spikes and the male flowers at the tip. 

Amaranthus spinosus is native to the tropical regions of North, Central, and South America. However, it is widely distributed in various ecosystems worldwide, including in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling, digging, cutting, cultivation, and mowing can be effective when dealing with young, delicate seedlings, especially after a flush of germination. 
• Natural control: Natural remedies like boiling water, flame torch, vinegar, and corn gluten can also help to control young plants. 
• Chemical control: Amaranthus spinosus is vulnerable to several herbicides like MCPA, 2,4-D, EPTVC, acifluorfen, atrazine, Glyphosate, oxadiazon, paraquat, propanil, trifluralin, and oxyfluorfen. 
• Biological control: Pigweed weevil is a biological agent effective at controlling spiny amaranth in Thailand. 

9. Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

• Local Name: Common blue violet; meadow violet; wood violet
• Family:  Violaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Common blue violet is a short-growing, herbaceous plant that grows to 15-25 in height and width. Its basal, heart-shaped green leaves have a width of 1 to 3 inches and a height of 5 to 6 inches. 

The leaves are wide at the base and toothed along the margin. The upper surface is smooth, while the lower surface is hairy like flowering stems. 

The plant produces conspicuous blue (sometimes whitish, pink, or lavender) flowers, borne individually at the tip of the flowering stems. 

The flowers have five spreading, irregularly shaped petals with white and pale yellow tinges at the base. 

It is native to:

• U.S.A. 
• Canada
• Mexico 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling or digging is an effective solution for controlling small patches of common blue violets. However, the ground must be moist to remove the entire plant, including the rhizomatous root clumps. 
• Natural control: Natural remedies like vinegar-soap dish solution and boiling water can kill the weeds. However, several treatments might be needed to completely overwhelm the violets. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, Triclopyr, and Fluroxypyr eradicate large infestations of common blue violets. 

10. Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

• Local Name: Poison hemlock 
• Family:  Apiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial 

Poison hemlock is an herbaceous, rapid-growing plant that can reach 2.4 meters in height. At the end of its lifecycle, its hollow, dark maroon stems become brown and dry. 

The plant has bright green, fern-like, pinnate leaves with toothed edges. 

The overall shape of the leaves is triangular, with a single leaf section (comprised of several tiny leaflets) measuring about 50cm long and 40cm wide. 

The plant also produces tiny, white, lacy, and umbrella-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters at the tip of the stems. These flowers then develop into green, deeply ridged fruits containing several seeds. 

As the name suggests, all parts of the poison hemlock plant are poisonous, especially when ingested. 

The plant also releases a strong, unpleasant odor (more pronounced when the leaves are crushed) that carries with the wind. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• North America
• North Africa
• Western Asia
• Mediterranean

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling is an effective control method for small infestations and moist soil. You can also overwhelm and eventually eradicate the plant through repeated cutting, slashing, or mowing close to the ground. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, Glyphosate, and Triclopyr are very effective at eradicating poison hemlock and are less labor-intensive. 

11. Oriental Lady’s Thumb (Persicaria longiseta) 

• Local Name: Oriental lady’s thumb; British lady’s thumb; Long bristle smartweed
• Family:  Polygonaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Oriental lady’s thumb (low smartweed, bristled knotweed, or tufted knotweed) is an herb that grows to 30-80cm tall. 

It has hairless, branching stems, which might trail at the base and start rooting at the lower nodes when they come into contact with a growing media. 

The leaves are lanceolate to elliptical and are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaf blades are about 8cm long by 3cm wide, have an entire margin, and can be slightly hairy on the undersides. 

The plant also produces clustered inflorescence spikes at the tip of the stems. The spike heads are long (up to 8cm) and contain several dark pink to reddish flowers.  

It is native to:

• China 
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Korea
• India 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling digging, frequent mowing, and repeated tillage can control small plant infestations. 
• Natural control: Natural herbicides like vinegar, acetic acid, boiling water, and a weed flamer can also help contain the plant. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using several general-use herbicides, such as Glyphosate, 2,4-D, Triclopyr, and Dicamba. 

12. Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) 

• Local Name: horsenettle; Bull nettle
• Family:  Solanaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

California horsenettle is an herb in the nightshade family (not a true nettle) that grows to 90cm tall. 

Its green, upright, branching stems are covered with sharp prickles, and older stems become woody over time. 

Its leaves are oblong to egg-shaped, 6-11cm long, with irregular lobes and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves, arranged in an alternating pattern along the stem, are covered with fine hairs and sharp spines.

The plant produces white or purple flowers, which bloom in clusters at the apex of the branching stems. Each flower has five star-shaped triangular petals with a yellow stamen protruding from the center. 

It is native to: 

• Southeastern United States 
• Canada 
• Mexico 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: You can get rid of small patches by hand-weeding them. Other mechanical techniques like tilling and mowing are ineffective and might encourage new infestations. 
• Chemical control: You can eradicate the plant by spraying herbicides like atrazine, Glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, halosulfuron, and nicosulfuron. Repeated herbicide treatments may be required for full eradication. 

13. Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)

• Local Name: Red henbit 
• Family:  Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Purple deadnettle (red deadnettle or purple archangel) is a short, herbaceous flowering plant that grows 5-20cm tall. Its square-shaped, purplish-green stems branch at the plant’s base.

The plant has spade-shaped, purple-green leaves forming dense clusters near the top of the stems. The leaf blades have serrated margins and are covered with fine hairs, giving them a fuzzy appearance. 

Purple deadnettle produces purplish flowers that form above the leaf axils. The flowers are tubular with three petals (one hood-like at the top and two lower lip petals). 

Lamium purpureum is native to Asia and Europe. However, it is widely distributed across Northern America. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is effective as the plant has shallow roots thus easy to pull it out from the soil. It can also be controlled by mowing or tillage. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using post-emergent herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, Fluroxypyr, MCPA, and Triclopyr. 

14. Large Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) 

• Local Name: Hairy crabgrass; Northern crabgrass; Hairy finegrass
• Family:  Poaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual  

Large crabgrass (hairy crabgrass, crab finger grass, or hairy finger-grass) is a tufted annual grass that grows to about 60cm tall. It has hollow spreading stems that root at the lower nodes. 

It has dull light-green leaves (that may turn reddish with age) sheathed at the bottom, growing to about 3-17cm long and 2-14mm wide. The surfaces of the leaf blades are covered with dense hairs. 

Large crabgrass produces pale grey to purplish inflorescences, forming clusters at the tips of the branching stems. 

The flower spikes turn dark purplish when they mature and contain several tiny yellowish brown, oval-shaped seeds. 

It is native to: 

• Europe
• Asia 
• Northern Africa

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and digging out with gardening tools can effectively deal with small infestations. However, you must remove the entire plant from the roots else it will regrow. 
• Natural control: You can kill crabgrass using natural remedies like boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar. However, these are only suitable for isolated crabgrass patches or if you are spot-treating. 
• Chemical control: Crabgrass can be controlled with chemical herbicides such as Dithiopyr, 2,4-D, Pendemethalin, Fenoxaprop, Prodiamine, Quinclorac, and Bensulide.

15. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

• Local Name: Creeping Charlie 
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Ground ivy (creeping Charlie, creeping Jenny, runaway robin, or gill-over-the-ground) is a low-growing perennial herb that grows to 5-6 cm tall.

It has branching horizontal stolons that can grow to 2m long, taking roots at the nodes to create thick, dense mats on the ground. 

Glechoma hederacea is easily identified by its bright green, kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. 

The leaves are alternatively arranged on the stem and have long petioles. The leaf blades measure 3-6cm long and 2-3cm wide. 

Ground ivy has conspicuous blue-purplish flowers that grow in clusters of two or three from the leaf axils. 

The flowers are tubular with irregular petals and feature a notched and extended upper lip and 3-lobed lower lip. 

Ground ivy is native to regions across Europe and Asia. It is also a widely distributed species found across the US, except for the states of New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: You can control small patches by hand-pulling them from the ground or digging them out with gardening tools. However, mechanical control is ineffective for large encroachments due to the plant’s aggressive spreading habit. 
• Chemical control: Ground ivy can be eliminated using herbicides like 2,4-D, Triclopyr, MCPP, and non-selective options like Glyphosate. 

16. Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) 

• Local Name: Bush honeysuckle 
• Family:  Caprifoliaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Amur honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub (sheds leaves seasonally) that can grow up to 6 meters tall. It has leggy, woody, branching stems that can grow like a small, spreading tree or a multi-stemmed shrub. 

Its leaves are deep-green, oppositely arranged, ovate in shape, 5-9cm long and 2-4cm wide.

 The leaf blades, which have an entire margin and are slightly hairy, are broad at the middle, tapered at the base, and pointed at the apex. 

The plant produces white to pinkish tubular flowers with five petals that emerge in pairs from the leaf axils. 

It also bears bright to dark red berries (with 2-3 seeds per berry) eaten by birds, thus aiding in their dispersal. 

It is native to: 

• China
• Siberia 
• Korea
• Japan

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is effective for small, young plants, while larger plants can be dug out using gardening tools
• Natural control: Prescribed burning is used to control Lonicera maackii infestations. However, the plant will often regrow back, so repetitive burning is needed to deplete the nutrient reserves in the roots, killing it off entirely. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using systemic herbicides like Glyphosate or Triclopyr, which can be applied to the forage, cut stems, or the bark.  

17. Common Velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus)

• Local Name: Velvetgrass
• Family:  Poaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Common velvetgrass (Yorkshire fog, meadow soft grass, or tufted grass) is a clumping perennial grass that grows up to 1m tall. Its erect, hairy stems are white at the base with pink veins. 

It has flat, elongated leaves that measure about 5-20cm long by 4-12mm wide. The leaves are covered with soft hairs, giving the plant a velvety gray-green appearance, hence the name. 

Velvetgrass has a whitish (with purple tinges) inflorescence that forms spikes at the tip of the stems. These spikes contain several tiny seeds, which help spread the grass aggressively. 

It is native to: 

• Europe 
• Western Asia
• Canary Islands
• Northwestern Africa 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling, repeated short-cutting, intensive mowing, and aggressive tillage can reduce the population of this invasive grass. However, these control solutions are very labor-intensive. 
• Natural control: Burning can be used to control velvetgrass. However, the grass can re-emerge from the soil’s seeds; thus, repeated burning is needed to completely eradicate it. 
• Chemical control: Velvetgrass can be sprayed with non-selective herbicides like sethoxydim and fluazifop or spot-treated with non-selective herbicides like Glyphosate. 

18. Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)

• Local Name: Star-of-Bethlehem 
• Family:  Asparagaceae/ Hyacinthaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Star-of-Bethlehem is a perennial, herbaceous, and bulbous plant that grows up to 15-30cm tall. It initially forms basal leaves, which emerge from the plant in tufts from the root bulbs. 

The leaves are shiny and dark green, with a prominent white to light-green midrib. They are also long (up to 30cm long and 8mm wide), with a smooth margin and a tapered tip. 

The plant produces showy, bright white, star-shaped flowers at the stems’ tips. Each flower has six lanceolate to oblong petals with a green stripe on the underside. 

It is native to: 

• Europe 
• North Africa
• Western Asia 
• South America (Argentia and Uruguay)

Removal methods

• Hand-pulling: Hand-pulling is effective for small patches. However, you must pull (or dig) out the entire plant from the bulbous root, or it will regrow. 
• Chemical control: Large infestations are best eradicated using chemical herbicides such as sulfentrazone and carfentrazone.  

19. Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)

• Local Name: Japanese knotweed; Japanese buckwheat 
• Family:  Polygonaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Japanese knotweed (Asian knotweed) is a fast-growing, clumping herbaceous plant that can grow 3-4m tall. Its erect, hollow stems with swollen nodes give it a bamboo-like appearance. 

It has lime-green, ovate leaves 7-14cm long and 5-12cm wide with an entire margin. The leaves are petiolate, are arranged alternately along the stem, and have a truncated base and a pointed tip. 

The plant produces small, greenish-white flowers that bloom in clusters from late summer to fall. The flowers are borne in erect racemes, about 6-15cm long. 

It is native to: 

• Japan 
• China
• Korea
• Taiwan

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling can be an effective control solution for young plants, especially in moist soil. Grubbing can also control mature plants, but the removed parts must be disposed of properly or burned.  
• Chemical control: You can eradicate large infestations of Japanese knotweed using systemic herbicides like Glyphosate and Triclopyr. These can be applied to the foliage or through cut stump treatment. 

20. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculate) 

• Local Name: Oriental bittersweet 
• Family:  Celastraceae
• Annual or Perennial:  Perennial 

Oriental bittersweet (Asian bittersweet or Chinese bittersweet) is a woody vine with thick branches that can grow to 10cm in diameter. 

It has a spreading or trailing growth pattern, and its branches can reach heights of 19m depending on surrounding vegetation or structure. 

The plant has glossy green leaves (2-13m long and 1.5-8cm wide) alternately along the stem. The leaf blades are oblong to ovate with serrated margins, rounded tips, and short petioles (1-3cm long). 

It produces small, greenish-yellow flowers with five petals. It also bears green, round fruits, which turn yellow when ripe before splitting open to reveal bright red, berry-like sectioned capsules (each containing 1-2 seeds). 

It is native to: 

• China
• Far East Russia
• Japan
• Korea 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling is effective for juvenile plants. Repeated cutting and mowing can also control mature plants. However, mechanical control is very labor-intensive and may not be effective for large infestations. 
• Cultural control: Grazing by livestock (goats and sheep) can help to control and prevent the spread of the plant. However, it will not eradicate it. 
• Chemical control: Chemical herbicides like 2,4-D, Glyphosate, and Triclopyr are effective at controlling the plant. However, repeated applications may be required for total eradication. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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