Identify This Weed
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We would like to help you identify weeds that you find around the county. If you see a weed that you would like identified please upload your photo below and include any details associated with the plant. It is especially helpful to add a common object to the photo for scale and try to include as many details as possible (location landmarks, size of the plant, size of the infestation, time of year, time of day photo was taken, height etc.) We will try to identify the plant and if you would like, help with management recommendations.
Before submitting, scroll down and review past submissions to make sure your weed hasn't already been identified.
10/15/2020: Hi, I'm trying to rehab a very small piece of lawn that was let go by previous owners. This weed is fairly prominent in the lawn, and seems to weave its runners underneath the grass but (mostly) above the dirt surface. It's quite hard to see at first, just a smattering of small white flowers. But as you start to pull at it, you can lift / withdraw the runners from the grass and you're left with quite a pervasive plant. There is a central tap root that does pull out 95% of the time if you're gentle. What is this plant, and is there anything I can do to stop its growth short of having to carefully and tediously unweave and yank every plant? I have a couple more photos but it seems I can only upload one here. If you reply I can send the others. Thanks, Toby.
08/29/2020: Hello. We have struggled trying to get us of this weed in our yard for a couple of years now. It is a flat, almost vining weed (still has a root clump) that spreads like crazy. Theses pictures show it growing in our rock beds, but it has also infiltrated our wood chip areas, and also our grass. It especially seems to take over any areas in our grass that have died and are bare. It’s getting quite bad in our front yard. I sprayed it with ortho weed b gone (the kind that kills weeds but not grass), and it seemed to do nothing. It is not purslane, as we have that too, and this has flatter stems, and less bulbous leaves. Can you please help me ID it and tell me what will get rid of it best? Thank you
08/27/2020: 2 types of weeds found in new sod. This thick grassy like weed Grows super quick, just mowed last night and it’s sprouting taller than new (1 month) old sod and taking over the lawn. Very thick tube reddish/purplish at vase. Tops split/turned white after mowing. Also some sort of other weed mixed around it that started in the sod gaps and has slowly taken over. Easily pulled. The thick grass is HARD to pull out. How can I get rid of this?
08/22/2020: These are in our neighborhood's common property. Several people have said they're knapweeds but I'm convinced they're Canada (or some other) thistle. No one got pics of them earlier in the season or in bloom. I have lots more pics of leaves and seedheads. Also found galls on leaf petioles.
08/18/2020: This was the only example I found on our property. East facing hillside that's arid and gets just about 100% sun. Sorry for no scale but the fruit / seed pods / whatever they are are about 1/4" or a little larger in diameter. Bush was about 1 foot tall. Kinda looks like a tomato and we have a small intentional cluster of tomatoes about 50' from where this one was, but our current tomatoes are ugly hierlooms not perfect little spheres like this. Is it something in the nightshade family?
That is a cutleaf nightshade. It is an annual. It contains toxic alkaloids.
08/12/2020: Viney weed continuously grows through grass all summer. Put down Weed and Feed. Doesn’t seem to stop the weed. I sit in grass and try to pull by the root but they just grow back.
https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/lawns/1552-bindweed-control-lawns/
08/10/2020: Plant is about a foot tall. Looks like it may be the start of some sort of tree? There are similar shoots beginning right next to it. I have found others around the same patch of the yard. This is a newly prepared patch. I pulled up sod last summer, over wintered new soil and mulch. This is a volunteer. I saw it first about 2 weeks ago. Found the new shoots under the mulch on Sunday. This photo was taken this afternoon 5pm.
07/31/2020: 4:30pm: Grow to about 3 feet tall, seems to grow anywhere where there is exposed ground and lots of sunlight. Grows very quickly and gets bushy when mowed down.
07/27/2020: Please see attached photo. These small weeds are overtaking out back lawn. None in our front lawn. They almost look like little trees trying to grow. We can't figure out what they are, or how to get rid of them. We started noticing them last year, and we hired a company to do a weed-n-feed this spring, but they are just growing and spreading very rapidly. Thank you for any help you can provide.
07/25/2020: These are growing in random spots in our lawn, usually close to clover and in grass that is thriving, not the dry areas.
07/19/2020: will grow to 24" if left alone, growing in my lawn, 2,4d stunts it for a bit but comes right back. We keep it mowed, a 3" plant does just fine. How do I get rid of it?
If you do not treat your lawn each year with weed & feed products, I'd start there. Once the turfgrass is healthy and growing well it should choke out the kochia and other weeds.
If you can find an herbicide with Fluroxpyr in it that will work. You'll have to make sure it is labeled for use on turf.
07/14/2020: This weed grows flat. This particular weed is about 7" across. Has a red stem/vine.
Both these weeds are growing now in turf and garden areas. If you are pulling try to get the roots. They are both annuals.
I couldn't enlarge the photo enough but sure it's one of the two.
07/09/2020: the leaves are 3.14", the plant itself shot up to 11". with a thick 'hairy' stem (i had planted cucumber, estragon, marjoram, melissa, sage, oregano, thyme, savory, dracocephalum - and this plant grew along, maybe there was something in the store-bought soil).
07/06/2020: I was a turf manager for 27 years, and don't ever remember having to deal with this weed. This plant is 6 inches tall above ground, but I doubt it is fully grown. It appears to be spreading from seed, but I haven't seen it flower. It tolerates mowing. It has a slightly woody stem as it matures, is fairly shallow-rooted, and pulls easily in damp soil. It formed a dense matt in the irrigated turf, choking out the turf in the area. At first I thought it was Lambsquarters, but now I'm pretty sure that is not correct. It's growing primarily in the turf, but this sample was pulled from a perennial bed next to the turf. Thanks!
This looks like lambsquarters.
06/16/2020: Palmate lobbed leaves alternate arrangements no milky residue. Tiny spines on round stem some touches of red on stems and at base of leaf. Not shiny nor fuzzy leaves and no spines on leaves. More leaves sprout at base of leaf where it meets stem. Upright plant grows extremely fast. Bright full sun area in sandy soil. I'm not sure if I planted these in my garden but there are a few sprouting up.
These are weeds.
06/08/2020: Heart shaped leaves, similar in size to aspen leaves. Has a taproot that seems to go to China, and has been coming up everywhere for the last couple of years. No matter how deeply I dig, I'm unable to get all of it with a dandelion tool, so it breaks off underground to come up AGAIN. In the lawn, in the newly planted flowerbed, everywhere. It's like some kind of a wild tree in appearance. Some of the leaves have pinkish colored veins on the top side.
06/03/2020: Weed grows closer to ground. Main branch will have 5-8 shoots with round seed pods at the end of the shoot. Early stage pod is filled with white sticky liquid. No flowers that I can see. Small reddish spire grow out of the pod. Typically clump grows about 5-6 inches and each shoot is about 3-4 inches long off Main branch.
06/02/2020: Very small fruits approximately 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm Total plant length 10 to 25 cm Taken In a mountainous area 200 meters above sea level The fruits are centuries old, but I don't know what kind or type they come back to.
Total plant length 10 to 25 cm
05/18/2020: Photo taken today. There are large amounts of this in the native grass in open areas where we live. This is in an area that was reworked last summer and hydro seeded in the fall. Landscaper could not produce seed mix for my review. Plants range from a few inches tall to over a foot. This one is about 8”. Pulls easily.
05/17/2020: is this a noxious weed? They tend to clump. I have several in one area. I haven't lived here very long so I'm still figuring out what was intentional plantings and what are weeds. Taken at noon today. had velvet like foliage and purple flowers that the bees seem to love. They're about 4'6" tall
If you'd like to use an herbicide 2,4-D will work.
05/08/2020: I think this might be leafy spurge or flixweed but unsure. It is in multiple areas on our small farm and moving into a grass hay field that I cut and bale. It was in last years harvest and animals don't like it. I would like to spray with something that won't affect its use as feed when harvested in mid to late June. A recommendation on control would be appreciated.
That is Flixweed. You can use Telar or Escort on Flixweed and it's safe to use on the hay.
05/06/2020: From plant base to top of flower stalk, ~10-12 inches; whorled, slightly serrated leaves (although not prickly), appears to be an annual as it is not deep rooted, series of small white flowers that open from outward to inward. Could this be Hoary Cress?
You can use an herbicide called "escort" to get rid of it. It must be applied at the flowering stage. Mowing repeatedly during the growing season if not using an herbicide to control in
spring/summer timeframe will help.
05/05/2020: These plants will grow up to about 8-10” tall and wide. They have spines on them, so you definitely need gloves to handle them. These are in the lawn but are also along the fields nearby. I thought they may be Canada thistle, but they don’t have the extreme serrations on the leaves...and I couldn’t find any other thistle that looks the same. Any help would be appreciated.
There are not many herbicides for turf that will kill thistle.
04/27/2020: This grass-like weed has shown up in a pasture this year. Haven't seen it in my 30 years here. Is it cheatgrass or something else? What do I control it with without damaging surrounding pasture grass?
I sell Plateau here at our office. If you need more info, let me know.
04/13/2020: This weed seems to have woody stems that produce a spike like airy flower. The flowering top is also brittle with whiteish flowers/seeds. It is taking over my pasture. This spring I see a large amount of low green growth where the woody stems with whiteish seeds are left from last year. The woody parts in the pic are the stems from last year. The woody flowering stems that rise up from the ground are brittle and for the most part are easy to break off by hand or even pull up. However, this year there is an obvious green growth around where the stems from last season are. I want to eradicate this as it becoming more prolific. I look forward to your advice.
We have an herbicide called E-2 which is a 2-4,D Dicamba mixture with flouroxpyr that works well on Kochia. It has become resistant to many herbicides over the years. If you want to discuss herbicides, call me at the office 970-498-5768.
10/26/2019: Wondering how to treat or prevent this from coming back I believe it might be goat heads we had them at our farm in Brighton and I’d like to take care of them as quickly as possible before they hatch if you know what I mean
10/17/2019: 12" to 24", mostly already gone to send by the time i saw it in late Aug. No spine or thorns under flowers. It was also near a yellow flower, similar looking plant, but not 100% certain it is the same plant. these photos in late afternoon, end Aug. A person on FB thought it could be Western Mugwort, others said could be Goldenrod, Rabbit Brush, or Snake Weed. So basically no clue. Hope you can help, thanks!
https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/Broom_Snakeweed.
09/26/2019: Found in pasture, largest clump about a foot high and wide, would like to know if it is safe for horses and how to eradicate.
08/28/2019: Wondering if someone knows what this “parasite” is. The host plant is spotted knapweed or a diffuse/ spotted hybrid but I think the former. Whatever it is, it has prevented the hist plant from flowering. Wondering what it is and if I can get more. Thanks, Larry Higgins
08/14/2019: Almost certain it's in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Grows erect when young, but becomes rather prostrate as it grows larger; the largest one I've seen is about two feet in radius and the roots are relatively shallow with a taproot extending six inches, max. The fruits are small (1/2 centimeter) mottled green berries that grow in clumps of about 3-8. They plague our bare-root production fields at the CSFS nursery, comprising about half of 3.5 acres of land along with with redroot pigweed, kochia, and skeleton leaf bursage.
07/25/2019: I am pretty sure this is a Tree of Heaven? I saw a lot of these in NE Kansas, but none here. Originally I thought it was a sumac, but the bark does not look right, and the parent plant is way too big. Several others are in the immediate area. Please confirm for me. Thanks. Lee Martin, 970-667-6286 x1216
07/18/2019: We were gone 10 days and these came up through landscape fabric and rocks... it seems like hundreds. The neighbors had them first and now they are all over. I don't use weed killer but I don't think I can get ahead of this. Is there something you could recommend? Thank you
If you want to use roundup that will work on it, but it will also kill any other plant it touches. I believe there is a lot of it this year because of all
the moisture we've had.
07/15/2019: Vine covering the ground, seems to grow quickly, as patch has tripled in size in about a week. Leaves seem to be between 2/3 to 1.5 inches in size. Having trouble identifying online with pictures. Any ideas what this might be? Thanks!
Field bindweed is a non-native deep-rooted perennial that reproduces from seed and creeping, horizontal roots (rhizomes). Field bindweed stems are prostrate (grows low to the ground) and twining, and grow up to 6 feet long. Leaves are distinguishable by their arrowhead shape. The flowers are bell or trumpet-shaped, white to pink in color, and are about 1 inch long. Field Bindweed seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 40 years.
07/11/2019: This was taken around 1pm. Each leaf is about 1/2" in diameter. Very low growing ... hugs the ground. These are all over the yard I'm reseeding with drought resistant grass. They get many inches around, several inches from a central stalk, and are hard to pull out by the roots. I've just been ripping the leaves off mostly. The black hose in the one photo is 1/2" drip line, for size reference. Thanks! Kim
07/03/2019: Like fine straw. Took over pasture area that was graded and spread during several dry years. Roughly 1/2 acre or so and increasing. Pasture depends on rainfall only. Any reasonable was to control this? Thanks for any assistance.
We have an herbicide here called Plateau that can be put down in August (late summer) as a pre-emergent if it is cheatgrass..
07/03/2019: 8:36 am. This weed is found in my yard, where the rabbits feed on the grass. It grows and spreads rapidly, quickly overtaking an area. I believe in the photo you can see the scale of the weed leaf compared to grass. This infestation is approx. 3 X 3 ft. We have multiple smaller infestations throughout the yard. The weed is no taller than the grass. It does not respond well to turf weed and feed products. Thank you for your help. I appreciate it.
we are not turf experts here, but this looks like crabgrass or goosegrass. You can get more info by contacting the CSU extension office.
Here is a video that you may find helpful -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT0ugchDQ8U
06/24/2019: In the picture there are car keys as a reference on size. Picture was taken in the afternoon. In the picture are some that were pulled to show the roots along side with the weeds in the ground.
06/17/2019: Viney weed. Heavy mounds of vines. Feeling of velcrow when touched, kinda sticky. Seed pods look as though they are prickly, but they arent.
http://www.idahoweedawareness.net/wow/02_02_15.html
05/23/2019: Plants are growing under trees near creek. Young plants are upright with bright green leaves, then stems become "hairy" and lay down more like a vine. The seed pods appear spiny but soft. Flowers are light purple or whitish. They seem to be quite aggressive and are trying to over run the grass by the creek. They look similar to purple mustard in some ways, but rounder leaves and different formation of plant. Attached photo is from last year with the forming seed heads. Usually sprout early spring and grow very fast.
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74154.html
05/23/2019: Plants are growing under trees near creek. Young plants are upright with bright green leaves, then stems become "hairy" and lay down more like a vine. The seed pods appear spiny but soft. Flowers are light purple or whitish. They seem to be quite aggressive and are trying to over run the grass by the creek. They look similar to purple mustard in some ways, but rounder leaves and different formation of plant. Attached photo is from last year with the forming seed heads. Usually sprout early spring and grow very fast.
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74154.html
05/17/2019: This is a weed that I have growing in my aspen groves. It grows very tall. 4-5 feet tall. The leafs become very large. When it dies in the late fall it leaves a tall hollow woody white stem. The mature plants shades the ground so grasses can’t get sunlight. I can’t find it in any of my weed identification books. Thanks for you assistance Steve Goodroad
05/16/2019: Hello, This is a picture of a weed I am fighting for the third year now. This one was taken across the street from me. It is a bit droopy because I recently sprayed it. The weed is very aggressive. It kills everything else out very quickly. I am in the process of spraying my property again, but the plant is coming to me repeatedly from outside my property. When I spray it dies off, but I cannot spray the neighboring properties. I think it might have started from a horse that used to be in the neighborhood north of me. The plant has taken completely over areas north of me. I also think it might be providing a home for some kind of aggressive bug. The last two years I had instances where I received multiple bug bites on my legs when I was working on my property. That had never happened before I saw this plant, and I have lived here for most of 30 years. My address is 2716 2nd St., but it is very prolific north of me. Please let me know what I can do. Thank you. Harry Spurrier
05/16/2019: Photo was taken at approximately 10:15am. Specimen in the photo measures 21 inches in height, however there are specimens on the property that measure 40+ inches high. Plants are growing on the south side of the house in an area approximately 15ft x 10ft, both in the yard grass and right up against the house itself. I consider the plant's growth rate to be relatively fast and it has proven impervious to weed killer. No flowers or seeds have yet been noted. I would appreciate any management recommendations you have. --thanks!
Tthis is red root pigweed. A 2, 4-D herbicide should work on this.
05/15/2019: Photo taken 5:00 pm 5/14/19. My backyard. Yard is typical grass with this weed infestation. Approximately 500 plants in 30’ x 30’ area. Plant is single rooted. Plant is difficult to pull out. When soil is loosened about 4-5 inches of root comes out before it breaks off. Leaves have small “thorns”. Scott’s turfbuilder with Halts does not affect these plants. Plants survive through winter. Any suggestions on eradication would be great. Thank you!
05/13/2019: Close-up of weedy invasive from neighbor's house. I believe it has purple bell-shaped flowers later in summer. (Message 2 of 2.)
I'd think something Like Ortho weed be gone would take care of it - what have you used on it? It kills weeds not the lawn.
(Yes, I think that is it. Looked it up on other sites and it fits my description and experience. Thank you!)
05/13/2019: This is an invasive plants that comes over from my neighbor's yard every year, no matter what I do to weed it out each spring. It takes over in my front and back yard. Can you tell me what it is, and is there a way to eradicate it/manage it efficiently? It takes over lawn and flower beds and chokes everything out. The leaves are alternate and they pull up easily when the ground is wet, but a friend recently told me they are attached to a rhizome that is deeper in the soil that is much harder to get. Thank you! PS I tried to upload 3 pics total but your system only allows one. Pls let me know if you need other to ID.
I'd think something Like Ortho weed be gone would take care of it - what have you used on it? It kills weeds not the lawn.
05/08/2019: This is a larger picture of the area where the Spurge is growing. You can see the weeds by the electric and phone boxes. We have also seen this weed in other areas of Sedona Hills subdivision, near Sedona Hills Drive and Snowy Ridge Lane and Verde Valley Court. My wife (Marguerite) or I can show you if you want.
05/08/2019: About 2:45PM. I don't know who owns this property. I live in the Sedona Hills subdivision at 5578 Sandia Lane. Is this a spurge weed? I will send a second picture of the area where I found this weed.
04/20/2019: This weed has a deep and extensive root system. Right now it is in a 20x20 ft flower bed and I can't dig it up because it goes so deep. Above ground it is a vine like stem. Last summer it took over with white/purple blooms. Has surface runners and deep roots, some the size of my little finger. Leaves are fern looking with long narrow leaves each side of the stem. What is the best procedure to get rid of this. Thank you, Gary
Ir may be field bindweed as the description of the flowers seem to fit.
11/28/2018: This plant is approx 18" in diameter though there are many both smaller and larger on the property. They grow mainly in the pastures or where they get a lot of direct sun. This is the first year I have been aware of them and they spread and grow quickly. Photo taken approx 5:30 PM.
09/14/2018: 5pm. In front of my house. I have a lot of them in different sizes.
The other weed at bottom of photo is Musk thistle - also needs to be removed before it spreads. These are both noxious weeds and need to be removed.
08/05/2018: It grows largest in our rock borders, but it is infiltrating our lawn in many places this year.
06/10/2018: I am from South Carolina and grew up seeing all kinds of pigweeds. I have not seen any in this county and I know how much of a problem this weed can become. I am also an applicator for habitat management in Denver and look at plenty of weeds every day. I’d be interested in your opinion because I own a home that abuts this park and it’s construction has introduced cheatgrass, curly dock, and now pig weed throughout this neighborhood. The compmay managing it has certainly sprayed but I don’t think they know what they could be dealing with. I would appreciate your opinion since I have no idea if pigweed exists in the county as it’s not listed on your species list. Thanks guys, have a great day.
05/25/2018: Blue flowers in spring, then becomes vining and develops burs.
Scorpion grasses
Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially denominated forget-me-nots or Scorpion grasses.
Scientific name: Myosotis
Higher classification: Borages
Rank: Genus
05/11/2018: Hello, We have been dealing with this weed in a large bed for several seasons in a row (since we moved in). We have sprayed it numerous times (maybe twice two years ago and three times last year) really thoroughly with several products recommended at the store and mulched over it. It kills it at first but the darn thing keeps coming back stronger than ever! It continues to spread and is taking over the entire bed. Would really appreciate some advice to get rid of it. Thanks so much, Gordon
If you dig it up , keep checking back for new sprouts and treat them with Round Up. I also read that using an herbicide with tricloypyr in it would get rid of it after several treatments but it may harm the other stuff in the bed so read the label carefully. There are some ready to use products with Tricloypyr at Lowes, Walmart etc.