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.

However, due to genetics, some plants have green leaves and red stems, which vary in shades, such as dark red, purple, reddish, or tinge-red.

The color comes from the pigment called anthocyanin, which makes the plants distinct and attractive in a garden. 

Here is a list of the ten weeds with red stems you can identify in your garden and how to eliminate them.

1. Pigweed – Amaranthus

The pigweed is among the annual weeds with red stems, with about 75 species in the genus. Ten of these genera are native to North America, while 65 others are native to the rest of the continents.

They are characterized by their oval or elliptical-shaped green leaves and height of 3 to 8 feet tall. Its flowers vary in shades of red, and the plant grows in hot and sunny climates.

The best way to get rid of this plant is by mowing the roadsides where they grow several times to reduce seed production. 

You can also practice harvest weed seed control which is effective for terminating weed seeds from growing.

2. Common Pokeweed – Phytolacca Americana

Pokeweed, or American pokeweed, is a poisonous perennial plant with red stems and green leaves native to Midwest, Eastern, and South North America. Its origins are also traced in parts of Europe and Asia.

They are characterized by their simple green leaves and a height of 4 to 10 feet. The plant has green or white flowers and red, purplish, or green stems.

The best way to eliminate the pokeweed is by pulling them by the roots or using a shovel. If the plants are tall or pulling and digging are ineffective, eliminate them using a weed killer or herbicide.

3. Castor Bean – Ricinus communis

Castor beans, or castor oil, are perennial weeds with red stems and green leaves native to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, East Africa, and India. 

The plant grows in tropical frost-free regions with well-drained and moist soil.

They are characterized by their long and glossy green leaves and height of 12 meters. The castor bean plant’s flowers don’t have any petals, but it grows in hot and humid climates.

The best way to get rid of the castor bean plant is by cutting down the stems and leaving them to rot because they are a safety hazard. 

You can also eliminate them using a weed killer or herbicide.

4. Lady’s Mantle – Alchemilla

The lady’s mantle is a herbaceous perennial weed plant made of 700 species, most native to Europe and Asia. 

Few other species are native to the mountainsides of Africa and North America.

The low-growing plant can be characterized by its semi-round and scalloped-shaped green leaves and a height of about 12 inches. 

Its flowers are small and don’t have any petals, and it is known to grow in cool summer regions with moist soil.

One way to get rid of these plants is by pulling them from the ground or digging them out using a shovel. 

Alternatively, you can spray a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate for effective weed termination.

5. Himalayan Balsam – Impatiens glandulifera

The Himalayan Balsam is an annual plant that, as the name suggests, is native to the Himalayas. 

It is common ornamental jewelweed in households across Europe and North America because of its colorful flowers.

The large weed plant grows to 1 or 2 meters tall with red stems and long, lanceolate leaves. Its hooded flowers are pink and mostly grow in damp places like wetlands and riverbanks.

To get rid of this plant, pull or cut it off before it flowers or produces seeds and leave them to dry in the sun for a few days. 

You can also use herbicides only if pulling or cutting them is ineffective.

6. Japanese Wineberry – Rubus phoenicolasius

As the name suggests, Japanese wineberry is a perennial plant with red stalk and green leaves native to Asian regions such as Japan, China, and Korea. 

It’s popular for its raspberry production of the Asian species and was later introduced in North America and Europe as an ornamental plant.

As one of the most common weeds with red stems, the plant can be described with its orange or red fruits and height up to 3 meters. Its flowers are purplish red or pink, with a bristle calyx that blooms in late spring.

An effective way to remove this plant is by hand pulling it, especially if it’s spread in a small area. 

You can try chemical control using systematic herbicides like glyphosate or triclopyr if it proves ineffective.

7. Elephant Bush – Portulacaria afra

The elephant bush is a perennial succulent weed plant native to South Africa. It’s majorly grown as an ornamental houseplant, food source, and medicinal plant.

It is popular for its red-pigmented succulent stems and short round leaves. The elephant bush is a short-wooded shrub plant that can grow to a height of between 2.5 to 4.5 meters in sunny regions.

If they’ve infested your garden, you can get rid of them by pruning them regularly and leaving them to dry in the sun. 

You can also pull them from the roots to prevent regrowth in your garden.

8. Mountain Pepper – Tasmannia lanceolata

The mountain peppers are shrubs or small red-stemmed plants native to the woodlands and rainforests of southeastern Australia. 

The plant is known for its aromatic leaves, spice, and bushfood condiment.

It can be identified by its 2 to 10 meters height and red stems with narrow green leaves. 

The mountain pepper’s flowers have cream or white petals and are grown as ornamental plants in most households.

You can eliminate this plant by pulling it with your hands, shovel, or fork shovel. Alternatively, you can spray them using herbicides to exterminate them effectively.

9. Red-Stemmed Filaree – Erodium cicutarium

The red-stemmed filaree, or the common stork’s-bill, is an annual and biennial weed plant native to Macaronesia, Eurasia, and the northern parts of Africa. 

It grows in warm climates and was introduced in North America in the 18^th century.

It’s characterized by its red sticky and hairy, odorless stems. Its pink flowers bear dark spots on the bases, and its leaves are pinnate.

You can remove this plant from your garden by hand pulling them before they mature and produce flowers. 

You can also apply minimal herbicides on the lawn or garden while they are seedlings.

10. Common Purslane – Portulaca oleracea

The common purslane, or little hogweed, is an annual succulent plant with red stems native to Northern Africa and Southern Europe. 

Throughout its growth, it has spread to the Middle East, Southern Asia, and Australia.

The short succulent plant is characterized by its height of 16 inches and smooth reddish stems. 

Its fruits are mostly seeded capsules, and its flowers appear any time of the year, depending on the rainfall.

Since it spreads fast, the best way to get rid of it is through soil solarization, which covers the lawn or garden soil with a clear plastic sheet for 4 or 6 weeks. 

This is especially effective when removing weeds from a large area.

You can also control the spread of the common purslane through mulches that are 3 inches thick.

Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post Garden Weeds with Red Stems and Green Leaves appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Annoying weeds always seem to choke out or destroy good plants. They compete for sunlight and resources aggressively. 

Some grasses that grow in rice fields look similar to rice, which may make it harder for you to eliminate them. That is where this guide comes in handy.

We’ve listed the 20 most commonly occurring weeds in the Philippines to make it easier for you to identify them. We’ve also explained ways to eliminate them.

1. Asian Spiderflower – Cleome viscosa

• Local Name: sabila-sabilahan or kampanilya
• Family: Cleomaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Asian Spiderflower is an annual weed that grows up to one meter. The plant is native to tropical Africa but is widely spread in warm and humid habitats across the Americas and Asia.

The Asian Spiderflower is mainly a broadleaf weed. You will find it mostly on disturbed sites, gardens, rice paddies, pastures, orchards, abandoned lands, and along roadsides in the Philippines.

The weed has a taproot system. Therefore, the best way of removing it is through hand pulling or spraying chemicals to kill its roots.

2. False Daisy – Eclipta prostrata

• Local Name: takip-kohol
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

False Daisy is one of the many broadleaf weeds in the Philippines. It is an annual weed that can grow up to 50 metres tall.

False Daisy is characterised by cylindrical and greyish roots, with purplish stems and fine white hairs. It has serrated leaves that can be up to 12 centimetres long. 

False Daisy has a fibrous with a shallow taproot system. Therefore, hoeing is the best method for removing it, especially if it grows along moist, disturbed areas.

3. Jute – Corchorus aestuans

• Local Name: saluyot
• Family: Malvaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Jute is another major weed in the Philippines. It is an annual plant native to tropical Asia and Africa.

Erect and sparingly branched stems characterise the weed. Furthermore, it can grow up to 40 centimetres, with the stem forming long hairs on one side.

The Jute mainly grows in disturbed areas in the rainforests of the Philippines. You can also find it in a vine thicket, monsoon scrub, and wooded grassland.

You can remove the weed through hoeing.

4. Wiregrass – Eleusine indica

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

The Wiregrass is also known as the yard grass or Indian goosegrass. It is one of the many grasses in the Philippines.

It grows in disturbed land, waste places, roadsides and riversides, beaches and open banks, and damp marshlands.

The Wiregrass is an annual weed that can grow up to one metre tall. It is native to tropical Asia but is commonly found in the Philippines.

The Wiregrass has a fibrous root system. Thus, you can eliminate it by applying a herbicide to decrease its growth.

5. Asthma Plant – Euphorbia hirta

• Local Name: tawa-tawa
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Asthma Plant is one of the most common weeds in the Philippines. Most people in the Philippines consider it a herb, and some consume it as a herbal tea for fevers.

The Asthma Plant is an annual plant native to the tropical regions of the Americas. It is also a broadleaf that grows in open grasslands, roadsides, and pathways.

The Asthma Plant has a taproot system with a distinct and well-developed primary root. You can remove it through hand pooling.

6. Bayhops – Ipomoea pes-caprae

• Local Name: baging-baging
• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The Bayhops is a perennial weed native to tropical America. It can grow to a height of up to two metres.

The Bayhops is a broadleaf weed. It has small pink to lavender flowers with purple centres. You will find it growing on the upper parts of beaches.

It develops a long, thick, starchy root as it grows. You can remove it through hand pulling, hoeing, or chemical application.

7. Giant Calotrope – Calotropis gigantea

• Local Name: kapal-kapal baging
• Family: Apocynaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The Giant Calotrope is a broadleaf weed native to many Asian countries, including the Philippines. The weed looks like a shrub and can grow up to four metres tall.

In some countries, the leaves of the Giant Calotrope are used in floral arrangements. But some can use it for ornamental purposes.

The Giant Calotrope is one of the many perennial local weeds in the Philippines that grow with a deep taproot system. 

Although people use it for beauty, the plant can be invasive. Therefore, the best way to remove it is through hand pulling.

8. West Indian Lantana – Lantana camara

• Local Name: Kantutay
• Family: Verbenaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The West Indian Lantana is a broadleaf perennial weed native to the American tropics. The weed is common throughout the world and is considered invasive.

The West Indian Lantana grows to a height of between two and six metres. It grows to become a shrub and forms a dense thicket.

The weed can grow in many areas, including agricultural zones, forest margins and gaps, riparian zones, grasslands, secondary forests, and beach fronts. 

You can remove it by cutting or applying chemicals to kill its roots.

9. Shameplant – Mimosa pudica

• Local Name: Makahiya
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Shameplant is an annual pantropical weed native to the Caribbean and South and Central America. 

It has an erect stem in young plants but becomes creeping or trailing several months after growth. It can reach a length of up to three metres.

The Shameplant is invasive and tends to attack hand-cultivated fields. Although it has a taproot system, the plant can affect good crops by forming a thicket around them.

The best way of removing the weed is through hand pulling or herbicide application.

10. Green Carpetweed – Mollugo verticillata

• Local Name: Tangantangan
• Family: Molluginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Green Carpetweed is an annual broadleaf plant native to tropical America. It grows to a height of up to 50 centimetres.

The Green Carpetweed also has whorled leaves and flowers that turn into an egg-shaped fruit. The weed may grow in disturbed areas or climb over nearby plants and obstacles.

The Green Carpetweed has a taproot system. However, it grows by reseeding itself. Therefore, herbicide application is the best way of removing it.

11. Creeping Woodsorrel – Oxalis corniculata

• Local Name: sorrel
• Family: Oxalidaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Creeping Woodsorrel is an annual weed that grows up to 50 cm tall and is native to tropical Asia.

The weed is identified by its yellow trifoliate leaves. The leaves subdivide into three rounded leaflets.

The Creeping Woodsorrel grows by spreading at the roots to form a mat. Thus, it will spread easily on arable land and waste places.

Since it spreads at the root, you can eliminate the plant by hand pulling or hoeing.

12. Carabao Grass – Paspalum conjugatum

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

The Carabao Grass is a perennial weed native to the American tropics. The weed can grow to two metres high and spread through long stolons.

The Carabao Grass commonly grows in humid places on the island, at forest edges, on roadsides, and on plantation crops. However, many people use it as a lawn grass.

The Carabao Grass can withstand mowing. Therefore, you can eliminate it by applying herbicides or hoeing.

13. Gale of the Wind – Phyllanthus niruri

• Local Name: tawa-tawa
• Family: Phyllanthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Gale of the Wind is an annual broadleaf weed native to tropical America. The plant can grow to 70 centimetres tall and have ascending branches.

The weed is also characterised by smooth, light green bark with pale green flowers. Gale of the Wind grows with a dense fibrous root system, which can spread easily and make the weed drought resistant.

You will find the weed growing in disturbed areas and landscape beds. The best way to eliminate it is through herbicide application.

14. Common Purslane – Portulaca oleracea

• Local Name: kulitis
• Family: Portulacaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Common Purslane is an annual succulent native to tropical America. The plant grows to a height of one metre with smooth, reddish stems.

It also has clustered leaves at stem joints and ends. The plant grows with a thick taproot and many fibrous secondary roots.

The Common Purslane will grow on flower beds, cultivated fields, roadsides or other disturbed or waste places. You can remove it through hand pulling or chemical application.

15. Arrowleaf Sida – Sida rhombifolia

• Local Name: buri-buri
• Family: Malvaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Arrowleaf Sida is a perennial or annual weed native to tropical America. It has an erect stem that can grow up to 120 centimetres tall.

The Arrowleaf Sida also has dark green leaves shaped like a diamond. The plant grows on waste ground, including rocky areas and roadsides.

The Arrowleaf Sida is considered a subshrub plant. Therefore, removing its roots is the best way of preventing it from regrowing.

16. Black Pigweed – Trianthema portulacastrum

• Local Name: papait
• Family: Aizoaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Black Pigweed is an annual weed native to Africa, North and South America. It mostly grows in disturbed and cultivated land and interferes with good crops.

The stems of Black Pigweed can grow to a height of up to one metre. You can also identify the weed by its green-to-red colour.

Also, its leaves are small and round or oval blades. You can pull the weed by hand since it grows through its taproot system.

17. Billygoat Weed – Ageratum conyzoides

• Local Name: bukal-bukal
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

The Billygoat Weed is an annual weed native to tropical America. However, it is now considered an invasive weed because it destroys good crops that come into contact with it.

The Billygoat Weed can grow to a height of up to one metre. Its leaves are ovate and produce white flowers.

The Billygoat Weed thrives in garden and agricultural soils and is common in disturbed sites. You can remove it by hoeing or chemical application.

18. Alligator Weed – Alternanthera philoxeroides

• Local Name: kangkong-lupa
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The alligator weed is a perennial plant native to South America. It is considered an invasive weed and has spread in many countries globally, including the Philippines.

The alligator weed mostly thrives in dry and aquatic environments. You can identify it with its whitish, papery flowers and short stalks.

Its stem is also irregular and hollow and can sprout up to a length of ten metres. As an invasive species, chemical application is the best way to control the alligator weed.

19. Punarvana – Boerhavia diffusa

• Local Name: sambong
• Family: Nyctaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The Punarvana is a creeping perennial weed with an unclear native range. 

However, the weed is widely dispersed throughout India, the Pacific, and the southern United States. It is also naturalised in the Philippines.

You can identify it by its purplish stems, thickened at the nodes. Also, the weed has ovate or rounded leaves with a slightly pinkish colour.

Most people in the Philippines consider the weed a herb because of its medicinal properties. 

Since the weed occupies disturbed land, you can remove it by hand pulling.

20. Nut Grass – Cyperus rotundus

• Local Name: baray-baria
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The Nut grass is a perennial grass considered to be an invasive weed. It is native to Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The Nut grass can grow to a height of up to 140 centimetres. You can identify the plant by its tubers that look like nuts.

Nut grass grows with an extensive underground network of basal bulbs, fibrous roots, and thin, wiry rhizomes.

You can eliminate it through herbicide application, hoeing, or the other steps we covered in our nut grass removal guide.

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Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post 20 common weeds in the Philippines and their scientific names appeared first on InsightWeeds.

While most of these weed plants are referred to as “weed,” it’s important that you identify them by their name and features. Once you’ve done so, you’ll find eradicating and controlling them easier.

However, other weeds are attractive that instead of getting rid of them, you can relocate them to another place or leave them.

These are 20 common weeds with long narrow leaves and how to control or eradicate them.

1. Purslane

The common purslane, Portulaca oleracea, is an annual (and also tropical perennial) succulent plant native to North Africa and Southern Europe.

It is thought to contain nutritional value and can be eaten raw or added to food salad.

The plant may grow as tall as 16 inches high and has smooth, reddish prostrate stems. Its leaves are clustered at the stem’s joints and ends, producing yellow flowers.

The best time to get rid of purslane is at its early stage of maturity, and you can do so by hand pulling them. You can also use herbicides, which are effective when the weeds are young.

2. Field bindweed

Scientifically named Convolvulus arvensis, the field bindweed is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows on walls and fences.

The weed plant is native to North America, Europe, and Asia.

The bindweed can grow up to 6.5 feet in length and has pinkish-white flowers that bloom and produce a pleasant fragrance.

The stems are slender, branched, and deciduous, with alternate leaves with pointed lobes at the base.  

The effective way to control or eradicate bindweed is by removing the plant from its root system.

You can also apply herbicides or landscape fabric on top of it to prevent seed production.

3. Pigweed

Pigweed’s scientific name is Amaranthus, but it is also known as wild spinach, redroot pigweed, and green amaranth.

It is among the annual weeds with long narrow leaves native to North and South America.

The pigweed’s key features include simple green oval leaves and round seedpods that produce many seeds.

Its flowers are purplish-pink with dark pink stripes running down them. They’re common in areas with high sun exposure and are edible –often as an addition to salads.

The best way to eradicate pigweed in your lawn or garden is by pulling out the weed before it flowers.

Then, since it thrives in light for germination, mulch the weeds with 3 to 6 inches of mulch layers.

4. Dandelion

Dandelions, scientifically named Leontodon taraxacum, are perennial plants that grow in temperate regions in areas with well-drained and moist soils.

The plant species varies with native regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia.

Its bright yellow flowers characterize it. It often grows on lawns and appears through cracks in sidewalks and driveways.

Despite being a weed, the plant is used for medicinal purposes and can be added to salads.

The best and most effective method to eradicate dandelions is by digging up the plant from its roots. For this method to be effective, you might need special dandelion removal tools.

NOTE: You can also eliminate dandelion using herbicides, but the weed may keep coming back, especially if you haven’t destroyed its root system.

5. Common thistle

The common thistle, whose botanical name is Cirsium vulgare, is a perennial plant with long narrow leaves native to Europe.

The weed is commonly found in pastures, meadows, and roadsides and is native to Europe and Asia.

It’s characterized by dark purple flowers blooming in spring and spiny and lance-shaped leaves.

It also has a deep taproot system that anchors it firmly to the soil for support, water, and nutrients.

Digging up thistles isn’t an effective eradication approach since they’re invasive weeds that can regenerate through their roots.

Instead, the most effective ways of controlling common thistle are by hand-pulling, mowing, and using herbicides.

6. Creeping speedwell

The creeping speedwell, whose botanic name is Veronica filiformis, is a perennial weed with hairy stems.

It’s native to Europe, Asia, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus and was introduced to the United States in the 1920s.

The weed can grow up to 2 to 5 inches high and 20 to 30 inches wide upon maturity.

It produces blue, pinkish-purple, or white flowers and reproduces primarily by seeds. It mostly grows in lawns, gardens, or turf grass areas with moist soils.

Creeping speedwell can be controlled by regular mowing and applying the mecoprop or ioxynil herbicide mixture in spring or autumn.

You can also manually remove the weeds to control their spread.

7. Groundsel

Common groundsel, botanically called Senecio vulgaris, is an annual flowering weed native to Europe, parts of North Africa, and northern Asia. It has then been distributed to various habitats worldwide.

The long, thin-leaf plant features pinnately lobed leaves about 3 inches long and covered with soft fine hairs.

Its stems are hollow from the top to its base, producing yellow flowers. Furthermore, it has a shallow taproot and spreads itself by reseeding.

The recommended method of controlling the weed plant is by hand pulling and tilling.

You can also use herbicides, but they may affect crops such as forage legumes, mint, carrots, and other non-grass crops.

8. Cleavers

Cleavers’ botanical name is Galium aparine, an annual weed plant native to European countries.

They are easily identified by their slender sprawling stems that grow up to one meter in length.

They also have slender green leaves and little green-white flowers that develop green or purple fruits.

You can eradicate it by hand pulling it, as they are easy to uproot and remove. However, you should remove it once it rears its head to minimize regeneration.

9. Marestail

Also known as horseweed, marestail’s scientific name is Erigeron Canadensis. It’s an annual plant native to North America and has spread throughout Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Its key features include a height of about 1.5 meters with hairy stems. Its leaves are slender and unstalked with coarsely toothed margins.

Its flowers have a distinguishable white or purple ring and yellow florets.

Since they are resistant to herbicides, it’s recommended that one uses herbicides such as burndown herbicides in fall or early spring before they mature.

10. Green foxtail

Its scientific name is Setaria viridis, an annual and ubiquitous grass weed native to Eurasia. It later grew on lawns, crop fields, gardens, and landscapes in the United States.

The green foxtail grows up to three inches high, and its leaves are half an inch wide. Its seed head is whip-like with small dark green brittles and looks like a foxtail. It also has fibrous roots.

It’s advised not to use herbicides to eradicate green foxtail as it may cause more damage than good. Instead, you can hand-pull it from your garden or yard.

11. Ribwort plantain

Ribwort plantain, known scientifically as Plantago lanceolata, is a perennial weed native to Eurasia. It was later distributed to North America, Australia, and other countries with suitable habitats.

It can be identified by its ribbed lance-shaped leaves and soft hairy stems. Its flower stalk is deeply furrowed, and its head gradually turns brown and seeds.

The main way to prevent these weeds is by keeping your soil healthy and aerated. If present, the best weed treatment is by pulling them out, including the roots, before they have a chance to spread their seeds.

12. Couch grass

Its botanical name is Elymus repens, a perennial outdoor plant with long leaves. The grass is native to Europe, Asia, northwest Africa, and the Arctic biome.

Its characterized by its underground stems with creeping shoots. Unfortunately, it also has a deep network of roots that spread quickly and choke valuable plants.

Small infestations can be cleared out by hand-pulling them during springtime.

It’s commonly referred to as an invasive weed, and its control measures include digging them to the roots and covering the area with mulch to prevent regrowth.

NOTE: Make sure you use an appropriate weeding tool for the best results.

13. Chickweed

Chickweed, scientifically called Stellaria media, is an annual winter weed that grows in cool regions.

The plant species is native to Eurasia and has been naturalized worldwide. It grows in moist soils or temperatures between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its characteristics include lush green mates with small, white star-shaped flowers. The leaves are green, oval, and hairless, while its stems are terete and hairless.

It’s very difficult to control chickweed because of its invasive capabilities. Therefore, the best method is hand-pulling or cultivating it at its early stages of maturity.

It would be best to mulch the cultivated area with organic mulch wood chips to prevent the seeds from germinating.

14. Crabgrass

Scientifically known as Digitaria sanguinalis, crabgrass is an annual weed that thrives in moist soil, making it difficult to control once it has germinated.

The weed is native to Europe and Eurasia, having later been introduced in the United States in 1849 as a forage crop.

Its key features include smooth stems with circular grooves. Its leaves are long and narrow and yellowish-green to lime green.

Crabgrass is easy to identify; once done, they are hand-pulled or mowed to eradicate them when young.

You can also use crabgrass removal tools or a crabgrass preventer such as Tenacity.

Ensure you don’t overwater your garden to prevent crabgrass’s uncontrolled growth and spread.

15. Shepherd’s purse

Shepherd’s purse, whose scientific name is Capsella bursa-pastoris, is a low but quick-growing plant that’s invasive and difficult to eliminate.

It’s an annual flowering weed plant native to Eastern Europe and Asia Minor.

It grows three to 1.64 feet long and produces triangular or heart-shaped seedpods with seeds that remain productive in the ground for several years.

It also has pointed leaves that grasp the long stem and its small and white flowers.

The best method to control shepherd’s purse is by regularly pulling the weeds and mowing the lawn for the best results.

Next, mulch the remaining weed 3 inches deep or use herbicide before it flowers.

16. Sandbur

Sandbur, botanically called Cenchrus, is an annual and perennial weed plant native to North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific.

It can be identified by its 40 inches height and widely spread and shallow roots. The leaf blades are twisted and have a fringed ligule at the leaf’s base.

The recommended way of managing sandburs is by regularly mowing your lawn and maintaining your lawn.

You can also pull it or fertilize your lawn or garden in the fall to crowd out any sandbur seedlings in spring.

17. Canada thistle

Canada thistle, whose scientific name is Cirsium arvense, is a weed plant that spreads by seed. It’s native to parts of Europe and was introduced in America in the 16^th century.

Its common characteristics include purple spiky flowers, long skinny leaves that form arrow-like shapes, and hairy prickly stems. Its seeds are similar to dandelion seed heads but more significant.

One way of minimizing infestation of Canada thistle is by mowing it into the soil before planting. You can also snip off the weed at its base using garden scissors.

It’s, however, not a good idea to uproot the weed as it can regrow with the tiniest portion of root in the soil.

18. Smartweed

Smartweed, botanically referred to as Persicaria lapathifolia, is an annual herb native to parts of Europe.

It can be identified by its red erect stems, a height of 6 feet when fully grown, and dark pink flowers. The green leaves are alternate and hairy, while its blades have a dark-colored mark in the middle.

Maintaining a healthy and well-kept lawn or garden can prevent the weed from growing.

If there’s a small infestation, you can pull them out or use organic herbicides but avoid spraying on your plants.

19. Nutsedge

The nutsedge weed, whose scientific name is Cyperus rotundus, is an annual and perennial weed that quickly spreads by rhizomes and seeds.

They thrive in moist and dry soils and are native to Africa, southern Asia, and southern and central Europe.

It easily resembles a blade of grass with its dark green V-shaped stem. The weeds grow to a diameter of up to six inches or more and release tiny greenish-yellow triangular seeds when they mature.

Nutsedge is spread through its rhizomatous roots and seeds, making it difficult to eradicate.

That’s why it’s important to eliminate them as soon as you identify them using the herbicide glyphosate.

20. Horsetail

Horsetail weed, scientifically called Equisetum arvense, is a perennial weed that grows in wet or moist soil.

It’s a tall plant with long thin leaves and native to the Arctic regions and the Northern Hemisphere.

The weed has thin, green branches, long leaves, and erect and succulent stems. Furthermore, it’s a poisonous weed to animals, especially if consumed in huge amounts.

Common control methods such as pulling, tilling, herbicides, and smothering are ineffective in eradicating horsetail weed.

The best way to eradicate the weed is by changing the soil conditions, such as drainage, pH, and soil fertility.

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post 20 weeds with long narrow leaves appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Some of them – particularly weeds with huge leaves – look like actual plants or flowers. Other leafy weeds are even edible, yet they might give the false impression of a non-invasive plant.

Whatever the case might be, having big leaf weeds growing in your garden is not ideal. They are likely to be aggressive and can harm your plants. Some can even be poisonous and thus a huge hazard if you have kids or pets.

These are some of the most common weeds with large leaves you are likely to find growing in your garden:

1. Common Burdock (Arctium minus)

Common burdock, also known as lesser burdock, is a biennial weed plant that primarily grows on lawns and gardens.

It can also be found on landscaped gardens, paddocks, pastures, and along the road and streams.

Burdock can be identified by its large, heart-shaped leaves that resemble elephant ears. The leaves have a basal rosette formation during their first year and have a hairy texture on the underside.

Another distinguishing feature is purple to lavender flowers, which form at the leaf axis or the end of branches.

Common Burdock is an edible plant – usually the roots, leaves, and stalk. However, the plant is highly invasive, with a large root system that guarantees survival.

It also spreads easily and quickly through the seeds. More than that, it is vulnerable to diseases such as powdery mildew and root rot and spread them to your plants.

Therefore, removing it as soon as you spot it is better.

2. Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)

Broadleaf plantain, also known as greater plantain or white man’s foot is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia.

However, it is widely naturalized, and you can find it anywhere in the world. It usually grows on gardens, lawns, meadows, roadsides, and even sidewalks (from the cracks).

Broadleaf plantain is characterized by huge oval-shaped leaves that grow between 5 and 20 cm long.

They have a smooth surface and margin and grow in a rosette formation close to the ground. The plant produces small, greenish-brown flowers at the top of the stem.

Broadleaf plantain is a beneficial weed plant, with the leaves being edible. However, it spreads easily through seeds, with a single plant producing up to 20,000 seeds. It is one of the most common weeds with huge leaves.

3. Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana)

Pokeweed, also known as American pokeweed is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the North American region. It sometimes grows in yards and gardens, but you are more likely to find it in forest edges, fence rows, and pastures.

American pokeweed is another one of the weeds with very huge leaves, which can grow up to 35 centimeters long.

They grow in an alternating pattern, and are medium green in color, with the underside having a lighter shade. It has white to greenish flowers (can also be pink), and green berries that turn dark purple when they ripen.

American pokeweed is an edible and beneficial plant. Young leaves and stems can be cooked and eaten. Juice that is extracted from berries can be used as a dye.

However, the plant is highly poisonous, especially the roots and berries. As it matures, the leaves and stems also become deadly.

4. Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

Hedge bindweed, also known as Rutland beauty or bugle vine, is an herbaceous perennial plant that is found in temperate areas. It is one of the lawn weeds with big leaves that you are likely to find growing on your property.

Hedge bindweed leaves are matte green in color and can grow up to 10 centimeters long and 7 centimeters broad. It produces beautiful, white or pale pink flowers with dark stripes, which bloom in summer or late spring.

Hedge bindweed is one of the most aggressive weeds with huge leaves. It spreads quickly through its rhizome root systems. It is also self-seeding and can produce seeds that remain active for up to 30 years.

Lastly, the plant creeps and binds – hence the name – itself against other plants. Unchecked, it can weaken and even pull down shrubs and small trees.

5. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Velvetleaf is an annual weed plant native to Asia but widespread in several regions of the world. It is a common sight in gardens, cornfields, landscape sites, and along roadsides and rail tracks.

Velvetleaf is a tall plant – growing up to 8 feet high. It is one of the tallest weeds with huge leaves.

Its flowers are yellow in color. The leaves are covered in short hairs, which produces a soft, velvety texture – hence the name.

The plant has many beneficial uses – it is edible, has medicinal uses, and is even used to make ropes and nets.

However, it is an aggressive and highly competitive weed, which steals nutrients from other plants.

6. Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)

Pigweed is the name given to several species of perennial or annual plants, which are also known as amaranths. The plants are thought to be native to Asia and the Americas regions, but they are currently spread to every continent.

The pigweed plants have large leaves – up to 15 centimeters long – which grow in opposite or alternating formations.

They are oval-shaped and have a dark or light green color (though some plants have leaves with purple hues). The flowers, on the other hand, range from greenish to crimson.

Pigweed is edible, with the leaves being used as vegetables and seeds ground into porridge flour. In fact, some people don’t consider it to be a weed.

The plant is even cultivated commercially in some areas. However, it spreads easily through seeds, making it pretty invasive.

7. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

Poison ivy, also known as eastern poison ivy, is a flowering plant that is native to Asia and eastern regions of North America. It is poisonous and causes painful itches and rash on the skin on contact.

Poison ivy has almond-shaped trifoliate leaves, which grow up to 12 centimeters long. In rare cases, the weed can have massive leaves that are up to 30 centimeters long.

The leaves are usually light or dark green in color but turn to bright orange, red, or yellow in the fall season. This is also one of the most common weeds with huge leaves.

8. Bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Bitter dock (broad-leaved dock) is a perennial weed that is common in pastures and gardens. It is native to Europe but has spread widely to all continents. It is a highly invasive plant that spreads quickly through seeds and an aggressive root system.

The bitter dock plant has large oval-shaped leaves that grow up to 30 cm long and 15 cm wide. They have a rounded tip, cordate base, and are slightly wavy at the edges.

The leaves are also smooth on the top and hairy on the underside. The plant produces small, greenish flowers that turn reddish-brown as they mature.

9. Common figwort (Scrophularia nodosa)

Common figwort, also known as woodland figwort, is a weed plant that grows in shady areas such as gardens, wastelands, cultivated fields. It is primarily found in the temperate regions of Northern America.

Common figwort grows tall and can reach up to 150 cm high. It has large leaves with toothed margins, ovate bases, and lanceolate tips, which grow opposite each other.

The plant produces globular flowers that are greenish-purple with hues of white.

10. Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

Princess tree, also known as paulownia or empress tree, is another weed you can find in your garden, woods, or fencerows. It has a tall, thick stalk and produces very attractive flowers.

But make no mistake! It is an invasive species that produces several million seeds that germinate anywhere with small amounts of soil.

The Princess tree is one of the tall weeds with large leaves, which reach up to 12 inches long and 9 inches wide. They are heart-shaped and hairy on both sides.

Another distinctive feature is its flowers, which are tubular and pale purple in color.

11. Honesty (Lunaria annua)

Honesty is a flowering plant that is native to Asia and the Balkans but naturalized throughout the world in temperate regions.

It is known by several local names such as silver dollars, money plant, Pope’s money, coins of Judas, or Chinese money. This is in reference to its disc-shaped silicles (fruits/seedpods), which look a lot like silver coins.

Honesty weed has large, pointed, oval-shaped leaves. They are coarse, have serrations, and are hairy.

In summer and spring, the plant blooms attractive white or violet flowers, and conspicuous silicles that are brown, green, or translucent (silvery).

12. Redshank (Persicaria maculosa)

Redshank is an annual plant that grows close to human activity. You can find it in gardens, yards, roadsides, along creeks, and even from cracks in the sidewalks.

The plant has several medicinal benefits and its young leaves are edible. However, it is invasive – spreading fast once introduced in an area – and competes for nutrients with other plants.

You can identify the redshank weed by its narrow but long and massive ovate-shaped leaves. They have distinctive brown or black spots in the center and have an entire margin.

The plant also produces small, seed-like, pink flowers, which grow at the end of the stem in a dense spike.

13. Hedge Woundwort (Starchycs sylvatica)

Hedge woundwort is a weed plant that is a common site on gardens, meadows, in the woods, along hedgerows, and on roadsides.

It is highly invasive, spreading through seeds that scatter far and with ease. It also has a vast rhizome root system, which spreads vigorously once it takes hold.

You can identify hedge woundwort by its stem, leaves, and flowers. The stems are hairy, the same as the leaves.

Its leaves are also large (up to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide), dark green, heart-shaped, and have a toothed margin. On the other hand, its flowers have a conspicuous magenta-pink color, with white markings.

14. Garlic mustard (Aliaria petiolata)

Garlic mustard is a biennial flower plant that comes from the mustard family. You can find it growing on hedgerows, edge of the woods, gardens, and landscape sites.

It is an invasive weed species that produces several seeds that sprout and overwhelm other plants. The plant also produces toxic compounds, that leech into the soil and kill beneficial fungi.

Garlic mustard has heart-shaped leaves with a toothed margin. They have a garlic and mustard flavor hence the name. The leaves are added to food as a spice or eaten in salads in some areas. They are also said to exhibit medicinal properties.

Aside from the leaves, you can identify the plant by its white flowers with four petals. The flowers bloom around spring and summer and are edible.

15. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioca)

Stinging nettle, also known as common nettle, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Over time, it has naturalized and become endemic to all continents.

It has several benefits, from being used as food, medicine, and even raw materials for the textile industry.

However, it is an invasive species that is hard to eradicate. More than that, it is irritating, especially the stinging nettle hairs and the pollen that causes hay fever.

Stinging nettle has dark green leaves that grow opposite each other on the stem. They are pretty large, reaching up to 15 cm (length) and 5 cm (width).

The leaves are serrated and have tapered ends. The plant also produces tiny, greenish-white flowers in the summer, that grow in clusters from the stems.

16. Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)

Japanese knotweed is a perennial plant that comes from the buckwheat and knotweed family. It is native to Asia, particularly Japan, but is a common sight in Europe and North America.

The weed commonly grows on hedgerows, riverbanks, waste grounds, and roadsides. But you can also find it in your garden.

Japanese knotweed has appealing red-brown stems, which turn green at the tip. It also sports bright green, heart-shaped leaves that grow alternately on the stem.

The leaves are large and broad (up to 15 cm long and 12 cm wide), have smooth surfaces, and an entire margin. As for the flowers, the plant produces small, greenish-white flowers, which are clustered along the stem.

Its root structure enables it to grow faster. Here’s a detailed guide for eliminating Japanese knotweed.

17. Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum)

Russian comfrey is a perennial plant, which is a hybrid of the rough and common comfrey plants. It primarily grows on roadsides, woodlands, and waste grounds. However, it can invade gardens and other cultivated lands.

Russian comfrey has large, lance-shaped leaves, which can grow up to 14 inches long. They are medium green in color and have a wavy margin.

Its flowers, on the other hand, are purplish-blue in color and appear around summer.

Russian comfrey has many benefits, from medicinal uses, and ironically, weed control. It is planted as a cover plant in some areas, to smother weeds and provide organic matter after cultivation.

However, this is one of the highly invasive weeds with huge leaves that have aggressive rhizome root systems that allow it to spread fast.

18. Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens)

Green alkanet is a perennial plant native to the European region, but also common in most parts of the world.

It is a tall-growing plant, that is a common sight in shaded areas, and is often found close to buildings.

Green alkanet has large, green, hairy leaves that grow in a basal rosette formation in the lower part of the stem. On the other hand, those on the upper part are attached to the stem and grow in an alternating pattern.

The plant also produces beautiful blue flowers, which grow on the upper axis of the leaves.

19. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

Giant hogweed, also known as giant cow parsley or wild parsnip, is an herbaceous perennial plant.

It is native to the Eurasia region but has spread all over the world. The weed was primarily introduced to new areas as an ornamental plant.

Giant hogweed has giant compound leaves with three leaflets that are deeply lobbed. The lower leaves are massive, growing up to 1.5 meters across the stem.

The plant also produces small, white flowers, which develop into seed pods, with each producing over 1,000 seeds.

Giant hogweed spreads easily through its seeds. It also has a giant tap root system that makes it a nuisance to eradicate. It is also pretty poisonous, with the stem producing sap that causes skin irritation, lesions, and blisters.

20. Dame’s violet (Hesperis matronalis)

Dame’s violet is a flowering plant known by several local names, such as dame’s rocket, dame’s gillyflower, and summer lilac, among others.

It is native to Eurasia but has spread worldwide – cultivated mostly for its ornamental benefits.

Dame’s violet plant is growing tall–reaching heights up to 1 meter high. It produces several upright stems, which are hairy.

Its leaves are bright green, lanceolate-shaped, and have a toothed edge. They grow alternately on the stem and have short hairs on both the upper and lower parts.

Dame’s violet also produces conspicuous flowers ranging from white to lavender or purple. It blooms in late spring and early summer.

Conclusion

Looking to identify weed plants in your garden? The above are some of the invasive weeds with huge leaves.

Most of them are easily identified as weeds due to their aggressive nature. However, some can pass for flowers or beneficial plants, and others are even edible and cultivated for food.

Nonetheless, these plants are invasive weeds. If left uncontrolled, they can overwhelm your garden, making it hard to grow other plants.

Now that you know how to identify them, you can move on to the next step – finding the perfect eradication solution.

Related Guides

• List of the best free plant identification apps
• What is the best free tree identification app?
• Types of leaves and their botanical names
• Fastest-growing large-leaf plants

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post 20 weeds with huge leaves you may find in your garden appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Unfortunately, weed identification, especially when dealing with broadleaf weeds, is not easy. There are several invasive species, and some are very easy to confuse with others.

But worry not! Here is a list of the most common types of broadleaf weeds with their scientific names. It covers the essential information you need to identify different broadleaf weeds.

What are broadleaf weeds?

It is essential to look at broadleaf weed’s definition before looking at the various types of these invasive plants.

Broadleaf weeds are invasive plants with broad leaves that usually grow from a stem. The leaves typically have a central vein at the center, with other small veins that branch out.

These weeds are also very conspicuous and stick out. Therefore, you can identify broadleaf weeds by photo comparison with ease.

20 most common broadleaf weeds

These are some of the most common broadleaf weeds that you might come across in your yard.

1. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Are chickweeds broadleaf weeds? Yes, they are. They are an annual and perennial flowering plant native to the European region. However, they have spread and adapted to various areas worldwide.

Chickweeds are low-growing plants with hairy stems. They have broad, long and oval-shaped leaves pointed at the tip. They also produce small, white, star-shaped flowers.

Chickweeds are a beneficial weed plant due to their several health (herbal) benefits. However, they are an invasive species, easily proliferating moist and fertile soils. A single chickweed plant can produce several thousand seeds, making them a nightmare to kill.

2. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover is a perennial broadleaf invasive plant native to Europe and Central Asia. However, it can be found worldwide and is common in the North American region.

White clover has broad, ovate, and dull green leaves with white markings (sometimes can be red). The plant is trifoliate – has compound leaves with three leaflets. It has white flowers, which appear in groupings of smaller flowers.

3. Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Wild Geranium is a perennial plant native in the North American region. It is considered by many people to be a wildflower – and is cultivated for its aesthetic and medicinal properties. However, it is a fast-spreading plant that proliferates through the use of rhizomes.

Wild Geranium has conspicuous basal leaves that have about three to seven lobes. The leaves grow from long stalks – about 12 to 28 inches tall.

Another distinct feature of the plant is the attractive purple leaves, which have five rounded petals. Therefore, you can easily identify the wild Geranium in your property by comparing it with other broadleaf weed pictures.

4. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Milkweed is a perennial plant that is native to the North American region. It is considered by some to be a wildflower but is an invasive plant spreading aggressively through seeds and rhizomes.

Milkweed has leaves, which are wide, thick, and long (about 10 to 20 cm) and grow in opposite pairs. They have a smooth surface on the top and fine hairs at the bottom. It also has pink (sometimes white) flowers that form a spherical cluster.

5. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Bull Thistle is a biennial weed plant that is native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. It has dark green, oval-shaped leaves that are broad at the apex with spines at the edges. As the plant matures, the leaves become deeply lobed and the spines more pronounced.

Aside from leaves, the bull thistle has distinct pink to purple flowers. They protrude out of a gumdrop-shaped flower head, with spines that extend all around.

6. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion is a perennial broadleaf weed that grows in sunny regions of Northern America, Europe, Australia, and several other regions. It grows from taproots, which produce several stems with short hairs. It has basal leaves – growing from the stem, close to the ground.

The dandelion plant’s most conspicuous feature is its yellow blooms. The flowers grow on hollow stems, with the seed head having a puffball-like appearance.

7. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

Ground Ivy is an aggressive perennial weed that is pretty difficult to control. It goes by several other names, the most popular one being creeping Charlie.

Ground Ivy, like the name suggests, grows close to the ground and spreads by creeping. It has round kidney-shaped leaves that are bright green and have scallops at the edges.

Another way to easily identify the plant is by its purple (or blueish) funnel-shaped flowers that sprout along the stems.

8. Chicory

Chicory is a biennial, but primarily perennial broadleaf weed that propagates by seeds. It has a distinctive basal rosette, from where winged branches and sparsely spaced leaves grow.

Chicory leaves are rough and hairy on both upper and lower surfaces and are similar to those of dandelions. When blooming, the plant has conspicuous, bright blue flower heads that grow on tall stems (up to three feet).

9. Curly dock (Rumex crispus)

Curly dock is a perennial broadleaf weed. You can usually find it on low-maintenance fields, pastures, nurseries, and orchards. It is also a common sight on roadsides. It usually grows in the Northern America region – all over the U.S and Southern Canada.

The curly dock can be identified by its shiny, green leaves, which transform into a reddish-purple color as the plant matures. The leaves grow from the bottom of the stem, in a rosette pattern.

They are oblong-shaped and have wavy margins. When flowering, the plant produces elongated stems, with yellow (or reddish-brown petals).

10. Prostrate spurge (Euphorbia supine)

Prostrate spurge is an annual broadleaf weed that is a common sight in the summer. It is an aggressive, fast-growing plant, that grows in poor soils, poorly maintained turf grass, driveways, sidewalks, etc.

Prostrate spurge has red, low-growing stems that form a mat-like appearance. Its leaves are dark green in color, and sport red spots at the center. When flowering, the plant produces small and pink flowers. The stem also has a milky, white sap, that can cause skin irritation.

11. Wild violets (Viola papilionacea)

Wild violet is a perennial wildflower that is native to the eastern regions of North America. It is a beautiful violet flower, that produces dainty petals in spring. However, it is also an aggressively growing weed that proliferates lawns and yards and is hard to eradicate.

The wildflower can grow in any area, even tolerating droughty conditions. However, it prefers moist, fertile soils. It can be easily identified by its heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, and large blue to purple flowers.

12. Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

Bittersweet nightshade is a semi-woody, perennial vine that is native to Europe and Asia. However, it has spread and become natural in almost every region, including North America.

It is an aggressive weed plant, which is a common sight in less maintained gardens and lawns. It can also grow on landscapes, along fence rows, streams, and wetlands.

Bitter nightshade has arrow-shaped leaves, which are usually lobed at the base. They are dark green in color but can sport purple tinges.

It produces star-shaped flowers with a yellow stamen protruding from the center. It also produces green berries, that turn bright red when they ripen.

13. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

Common ragweed is one of the most commonly occurring broadleaf weeds in the Americas region. It can be found on lawns, gardens, agricultural fields, and waste areas. It is an annual crop that sprouts in the summer and is popular for its pollen that causes serious allergic reactions.

You can identify common ragweed by its dark-green, thick, hairy leaves that look like a spatula as the plant emerges. Over time, they progress into a fern-like shape, with the hairiness becoming more pronounced.

Common ragweed grows tall and upright and blooms by producing green to yellow, streamer-like flowers. At the top of the stem are the male flowers, which produce pollen.

14. Dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium)

Dog fennel is one of the most common broadleaf grass weeds that affect lawns. Also known as summer cedar, it primarily grows in poorly maintained turf, lawns, golf courses, or playfields.

Dog fennel is a tall-growing plant that can reach up to three feet. It has soft and week stems, which become hard and woody as the plant matures.

It is easily identified by its hairy stem and oval-shaped, hairless, and finely dissected leaves. The weed produces small white flowers, which look a lot like daisies.

15. Common yellow oxalis (Oxalis stricta)

Common yellow oxalis is an invasive weed plant found in the North American region. It primarily infests cultivated gardens, but can also be found on roadsides and waste areas.

Common yellow oxalis has long petioles, from where three heart-shaped leaflets grow from. It also produces conspicuous yellow flowers with five clustered petals.

16. Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover is a herbaceous flowering plant that is native to Europe, Africa, and Western Asia. However, it has naturalized to many regions and is a common sight in North America.

Red clover has dark green leaves that sprout as three leaflets from long-growing leaflets. The plant is very similar to white clover, with a few differences such as pink to red flowers. It also grows vertical and tall, while the white clover weed grows short and spreads horizontally.

Both red and white clover plants are used as forage due to their legume fruits. However, they are fast-growing and spread easily through seeds and rhizomes. As such, if not closely monitored, they tend to become invasive; driving out other native vegetation.

We have created a guide to help you eliminate white clover from your yard.

17. Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolia)

Fireweed, also called American Burnweed, is an annual broadleaf weed that sprouts in the summer. It is a robust growing plant with long stems that can either be hairy or smooth.

Fireweed produces bright-green leaves that are narrow and pointed at the base and tips. However, their most distinctive feature is the pink to purple flowers with four petals – similar to those of the evening primrose.

18. False dandelion (Hypochoeris radicata)

False dandelion, also known as Carolina False Dandelion or Leafy Stem Dandelion is a perennial broadleaf weed. It is native to the European region but has spread to the Americas, Asia, and Oceania region.

False dandelion primarily grows in lawns and paddocks. It is very similar to the dandelion plant (Taraxacum officinale) but has several differences – hence why the name.

Both false and true dandelions have similar bright green, leaves that are serrated along the edges. However, the former’s flowers are hairy and have rounded lobes, while true dandelions are smooth and pointed.

The flowers are also similar – bright yellow and growing at the end of the stems. However, false dandelion flowers grow high above the rosette leaves.

19. Horseweed (Conyza Canadensis)

Horseweed is a common broadleaf weed that primarily grows in agricultural areas in the North and Central Americas. It is a native plant to the region but is considered a weed due to its high proliferation.

Horseweed produces several small seeds, that are scattered wide and far by the wind. It is also very tough, and can even be resistant to strong herbicides such as Glyphosate.

You can identify horseweed by its elongated and pointed leaves with serrated edges. They grow in a rosette arrangement at the base of the stem, then alternately along its length. The stem is also tall and upright-growing and can reach high heights of up to five feet.

20. Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)

Pigweed is a broadleaf plant that sprouts in the summer. It is known by several names, such as Amaranth Pigweed, Careless Weed, or Green Amaranth.

It is a species of the Amaranthus family of plants, which are cultivated in several regions around the world as leafy vegetables. Despite being edible, pigweed is an aggressively growing plant.

It invades crop fields, gardens, lawns, and spreads very fast by producing thousands of seeds. The seeds are also very tough. They can survive for a few decades and still sprout when the right conditions occur.

You can identify pigweed by its stems and leaves. The stem grows upright and tall, from where the leaves branch freely. The bottom part is smooth but becomes hairy at the top.

The leaves are oval-shaped and pointed at the tips. They are shiny and dark green with a smooth top and hairy bottom.

Summary

Do you have a broadleaf weed problem? With several types of these weed species – some very similar – proper identification is a crucial step towards identification.

The above are some of the most common types of broadleaf weeds that you are likely to encounter.

Some of the weeds are conspicuous and easy to identify. On the other hand, some are harder to identify, and can even look like other plants.

However, by closely looking at their features, you can be able to distinguish them and choose the right control solution.

Related Guides

• List of beneficial weeds and their uses
• The most common weeds and their scientific names with pictures
• The different types of sticker weeds
• List of lawn weeds in Virginia
• Types of leaves and their botanical names

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post Broadleaf weeds identification: common types with images appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Also, some weeds act as food sources. You can eat their stems, leaves, and flowers, either cooked or raw.

Although weeds can be useful to your garden, avoid planting them in your garden purposely. With a few exceptions, many can grow together with your vegetables without causing any harm.

The following is a list of ten useful weeds and their uses.

1. Bashful Mimosa

Bashful mimosa, also known as touch-me-not or sleepy plant, is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant.

It grows on soils that have low nutrient concentrations. That means when it sprouts in your garden, you need to test your soil to determine the nutrients that it lacks.

Furthermore, when growing in an area, it changes the physicochemical properties of the soil. As a result, it increases the value of nitrogen and potassium in the garden.

As one of the many beneficial weeds on a small farm, it provides ground cover for vegetables like peppers and tomatoes.

2. Broadleaf Plantain

Broadleaf plantains grow almost anywhere. You will find them in cracks in sidewalks, roadsides, and meadows.

When they grow on garden beds and lawns, they will accumulate several minerals that are beneficial to your vegetables. These include magnesium, iron, sulfur, calcium, and silicon.

When broadleaf plantain grows in your garden, it will enrich the soil and attract beneficial soil organisms.

It is also one of the many weeds with medicinal qualities. It helps to improve digestion, enhance wound healing, and lower inflammation.

3. Chickweed

Chickweed grows in distributed soils and tilled areas. Whenever it sprouts on your farm, it indicates low fertility in that space.

One of the benefits of the plant is that it can help to accumulate phosphorous and potassium, which are essential for strong rooting and vegetative growth.

Furthermore, it tends to attract insects or pollinators that are searching for nectar. Apart from benefiting your garden, chickweed is one of the many edible weeds found in gardens.

You can eat its flowers and leaves either raw or cooked.

4. Clover

The clover is a small annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial herbaceous plant. It grows freely in garden vegetables and tends to shoot up even after repeated mowing. Clovers are beneficial weeds because their flowers attract pollinators.

Clovers are legumes that host a lot of bacteria. The bacteria fix nitrogen in the soil and help to fertilize nearby plants.

Furthermore, it provides ground cover for plants like broccoli and cabbages, thus allowing them to retain water in the soil.

5. Dandelion

Many people consider the common dandelion an annoying weed. However, it is one of the most useful weeds that can grow in your vegetable garden.

The dandelion is the most visited plant by pollinators. It helps to restore the mineral content of the soil.

The plant can also create drainage pathways in compact soils, both of which are essential for a healthy garden.

Dandelions have a taproot system. It helps to break up hard soil and goes deep into the ground to bring up nutrients that many garden plants cannot reach.

6. Mugwort

Mugwort is one of the most challenging weeds to eradicate when it invades your lawn or vegetable garden.

But despite its undesirability, it has many applications and benefits on your small home farm. The plant helps to absorb heavy metals such as iron from the soil.

It prevents soil erosion, thus allowing your vegetables to hold onto the soil and grow well. At the same time, it helps to nourish the soil that lacks nutrients.

Mugwort is also a medicinal plant. Traditionally, people have used it to treat stomach and intestinal problems such as gas, constipation, and diarrhea.

7. Pennycress

Pennycress is an annual flowering plant that grows to a height of 60 centimeters with upright branches. It is one of the beneficial weeds for home gardens because you can use it as part of comprehensive weed management.

In other words, it can provide ground cover and suppress aggressive spring-germinating weeds like the giant ragweed.

Furthermore, the plant grows well in soils that have a lot of metallic minerals. Some of these metallic minerals include arsenic, lead, and nickel. When it sprouts, it will decrease the levels of these minerals in your garden.

8. Pigweed

Pigweed grows in farm fields where owners have already cultivated. Also, you will find them in gardens where gardeners use excessive chemical fertilizers.

The advantage of having them sprout in your vegetable garden is they help to improve the quality of the soil.

As one of the good weeds in your garden, it has deep roots, accumulating nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, manganese, potassium, and nitrogen.

Pigweeds also tend to loosen the soil. That is useful in providing a better footing for germinated roots and helps nutrients, water, and oxygen to reach the roots.

9. Starflower

Starflower or borage is a common weed that grows in gardens annually by self-seeding. It has edible leaves and is considered among weeds with medicinal uses.

The plant is rich in GLA (gamma-linoleic acid), which is essential in decreasing inflammation.

Borage also acts as a companion plant for various vegetables. It grows well with legumes, strawberries, squash, and tomatoes.

It will repel worms since it only attracts beneficial insects like bees and wasps. When it grows in your garden, it will increase resistance to pests and diseases.

10. Wormwood

Wormwood is a companion plant for your vegetable garden. It has a harsh taste and potent smell that repels insects, flies, moths, specific ground larvae, and pests. The weed will keep off nibbling animals like rabbits and deer.

Wormwood plant is useful in ornamental beds. But if you want to increase its pest-repellent properties for your vegetable garden, use it around carrots, onions, sage, rosemary, and leeks. However, uproot it immediately. It grows near fennels.

Conclusion

Not all weeds are bad for your garden. Some beneficial weeds can help to fertilize the soil, increase moisture, and repel pests. Also, some of these plants are edible, either raw or cooked. You can find many that have medicinal properties.

But despite their many positive uses, it is not recommended that you introduce weeds to your garden purposely. Instead, allow them to grow naturally next to your vegetables.

Related

• Botanical names of the most common medicinal plants

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post 10 beneficial weeds in a garden and their uses appeared first on InsightWeeds.