Weed Identification Guide
Don't let weeds rob your garden of its beauty. Use our guide to help you identify and control these troublesome pests.
- view all thumbnails
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: 12 inches tall, 6 - 16 inches wide
Where it grows: Lawns and gardens in sun or shade
Appearance: Strong taproot; leaves are deeply notched. Yellow flowers mature to puffballs.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens; pull plants by hand or use a post-emergence herbicide in lawns.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 20 inches tall
Where it grows: Sunny or shady landscape, lawn, or garden areas
Appearance: Light green leaves that look like clover and cup-shape yellow flowers in summer and fall
Control: Mulch garden areas in spring to prevent it; pull plants by hand or spray with a post-emergence herbicide in spring or fall.
Note: The leaves are edible in small quantities and have a sharp, sour taste. They can be harmful if eaten in large amounts.
Type: Grassy annual
Size: To 18 inches tall and 20 inches wide
Where it grows: Lawn, landscape, and garden areas in sun or shade
Appearance: Grassy plant; grows roots anywhere the stem makes soil contact; seed heads spread out like four fingers.
Control: Mulch to prevent it or use a pre-emergence herbicide in lawns; pull plants by hand or spot-treat with a nonselective post-emergence herbicide.
Note: Each plant can produce up to 150,000 seeds.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: Climbs 6 feet or more
Where it grows: Landscape and garden areas in sun
Appearance: Arrowhead-shape leaves on twining vines; bears white to pale pink morning glory-type flowers.
Control: Mulch to prevent; repeatedly chop down growing plants and/or treat with post-emergence herbicide.
Note: Wandering roots produce offspring 20 - 30 feet from the mother vine.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: 8-10 inches tall, 12 inches wide
Where it grows: Lawn, landscape, and garden areas in sun to partial shade
Appearance: Three-lobe leaves frame round white flower clusters.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in landscape areas; use a post-emergence herbicide in lawns or hand-pull.
Note: Clover adds nitrogen to the soil so as far as weeds go, this one is moderately helpful.
Type: Grassy perennial
Size: 2 feet tall, 1 foot wide
Where it grows: Lawn, landscape, or garden areas with moist soil in sun or shade
Appearance: Shiny, grassy leaves; nutlike tubers on the root system.
Control: Mulch garden areas in spring to prevent it; pull plants by hand or spray with a post-emergence herbicide containing MSMA.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: 4 inches tall, several feet wide
Where it grows: Shady lawn, landscape, or garden areas
Appearance: Groundcover with scalloped leaves and clusters of purple flowers in late spring.
Control: Mulch garden areas in spring to prevent it; pull plants by hand or spray with a post-emergence herbicide in spring or fall.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide
Where it grows: Moist lawn and garden areas in sun or shade
Appearance: Broad, flat leaves around a low rosette.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens; pull plants by hand or use a post-emergence herbicide in lawns.
Note: Each plant can produce more than 15,000 seeds.
Type: Annual grass relative
Size: To 30 inches tall and wide
Where it grows: Sunny or shady landscape areas
Appearance: Dark green leaves clasping a stem and brilliant blue flowers through summer.
Control: Mulch to prevent it or use a pre-emergence herbicide in spring; pull plants by hand or spot-treat with a nonselective post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: To 6 inches tall and 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Dry, sunny landscape and garden areas
Appearance: Groundcover with fleshy, dark green leaves and small yellow flowers at the ends of the stems.
Control: Mulch to prevent it or use a pre-emergence herbicide in the spring; pull plants by hand or spot-treat with a nonselective post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: 6 inches tall, 6 inches wide
Where it grows: Shady lawn, landscape, or garden areas
Appearance: Groundcover with heart-shape leaves and purple flowers in late spring.
Control: Mulch garden areas in spring to prevent it; pull plants by hand or spray with a post-emergence herbicide in spring or fall.
Note: This plant is often grown as an ornamental in shade gardens.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: To 42 inches tall and 30 inches wide
Where it grows: Sunny landscape and garden areas
Appearance: Upright plant with pink or white flowers in summer and fall and lance-shape leaves often marked with purple chevrons.
Control: Mulch garden areas in spring to prevent it; pull plants by hand or apply a post-emergence herbicide once it grows.
Note: This weed is native to areas of North America. Unlike many exotic weeds, it does support wildlife.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: To 2 feet tall and wide
Where it grows: Sunny landscape and garden areas
Appearance: It has jagged, hairy leaves and small white daisy-shape flowers in summer.
Control: Use a mulch or a pre-emergence herbicide in spring to prevent it. If plants do grow, pull them by hand or spot-treat them with a post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: 6 feet tall, 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Sunny landscape or garden areas
Appearance: Tall plants with a taproot; hairy-looking clusters of green flowers.
Control: Mulch garden areas in spring to prevent it or use a pre-emergence herbicide in spring; pull plants by hand or spray with a post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Where it grows: Sunny lawn, landscape, or garden areas
Appearance: Spiny, gray-green leaves and purple flowers.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in landscape areas; use a post-emergence herbicide in lawns in spring or fall. Or dig it out by hand.
Note: Thistle has an extensive root system that can grow several feet out from the main plant.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: To 8 inches tall and 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Sunny or partly shaded lawn, landscape, or garden areas
Appearance: Groundcover with blue-green leaves sparsely appearing on long stems.
Control: Prevent it with a deep layer of mulch or apply a pre-emergence herbicide in spring. Once the plant grows, hand-pull or spot-treat it with an herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 10 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Sunny landscape or garden areas
Appearance: Light green leaves with clusters of white flowers and dark purple berries.
Control: Prevent it with a deep layer of mulch. Once the plant grows, hand-pull or spot-treat it with an herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 15 feet tall and wide
Where it grows: Sunny or shady landscape or garden areas
Appearance: Vine, shrub, or groundcover with leaves divided into three leaflets; clusters of green berries.
Control: Prevent it with a deep layer of mulch. If it starts to grow in your yard, spot-treat it with an herbicide.
Note: The plant contains oils that cause a severe allergic skin reaction in many people when touched. These oils are present even on dead leaves and can become airborne and inhaled if the plant is burned.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: 2 feet tall, 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Landscape or garden areas with rich soil in sun or shade
Appearance: Bushy or climbing plant with white or purple flowers and purple or red fruits.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens; pull by hand or treat with a post-emergence herbicide.
Note: All parts of this plant, including the fruits, are poisonous.
Type: Broadleaf annual or short-lived perennial
Size: 1-2 feet tall, 1 foot wide
Where it grows: Poor, dry, soil in full sun
Appearance: Clover-type leaves and small, yellow flowers.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens; pull plants by hand or use a post-emergence herbicide. Discourage it by keeping soil well watered and amended with organic matter (such as compost).
Type: Grassy perennial
Size: To 3 feet tall and several feet wide
Where it grows: Landscape and garden areas in sun or shade
Appearance: Wheatlike flower spikes appear above slender clumps of grassy foliage.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens; dig plants out by hand, being sure to remove every bit of root.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Landscape and garden areas in sun or shade
Appearance: Produces large, wavy-edge leaves and large seed heads covered with brown seeds.
Control: Mulch to prevent it; pull and dig up plants or treat with a post-emergence herbicide.
Note: Each plant can produce up to 40,000 seeds that wait decades before sprouting.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: To 12 inches tall and wide
Where it grows: Lawn, landscape, and garden areas in sun or shade
Appearance: Low, creeping plant with scallop-edge leaves and purple flowers.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens or use pre-emergence herbicide in spring; pull plants by hand or treat in lawns with a broadleaf, post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: 2 feet tall and 18 inches wide
Where it grows: Landscape and garden areas in sun to partial shade
Appearance: Slender leaves, borne on an upright stem that branches. It produces puffy white to pale lavender daisies.
Control: Mulch to prevent it or use a pre-emergence herbicide in spring; pull plants by hand or spot-treat with a post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf perennial
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Where it grows: Garden areas with rich, moist soil
Appearance: Sawtooth-edge leaves and yellowish flower clusters are covered with stinging hairs.
Control: Mulch to prevent it; dig out plants or treat with a post-emergence herbicide.
Note: Always wear gloves when working around this plant.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: 3 inches tall, 18 inches wide
Where it grows: Lawn, landscape, and garden areas with dry soil
Appearance: Green or purple-blushed leaves form dense mats.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens or use a pre-emergence herbicide in lawns; pull plants when young or spot-treat with a post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: 6 inches tall, 12 inches wide
Where it grows: Lawn, garden, and landscape areas with rich, moist soil in sun or shade
Appearance: Lush green mats studded with small, star-shape flowers.
Control: Mulch to prevent it in gardens or use a pre-emergence herbicide in early spring; pull plants by hand.
Note: Each plant can produce more than 15,000 seeds.
Type: Broadleaf annual
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Where it grows: Fertile, sunny landscape and garden areas
Appearance: Large, velvety heart-shape leaves up to 10 inches across; yellow flowers in summer.
Control: Mulch to prevent it or use a pre-emergence herbicide in spring; pull plants by hand or use a post-emergence herbicide.
Type: Broadleaf biennial or short-lived perennial
Size: To 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Where it grows: Sunny landscape and garden areas
Appearance: Gray-green leaves; yellow flowers are followed by large puffballs.
Control: Mulch to prevent it; pull plants by hand or treat with a post-emergence herbicide.
My family has been eating "Pokeweed" for years and we love it. Mama said you have to be careful with it and cook it a certain way-with a little lard and even break a couple of eggs in it while it fry's. I wonder if anyone knows if it is good for the body-please let me know-thank's
10/5/2011 04:19:11 PM Report Abusepersonally, I like dandilions in my garden. The true one is great in a salad and if I knew how to make the wine, I would. One of my other favorite weeds is, Milk weed, but does poorly in my area, but I finally have two, after trying for 18 yrs to grow it. I find that wildflowers add character to a country garden in front of a log home.
8/23/2011 10:24:21 PM Report Abusethis is a very useful guide, I pull these weeds all the time but don't know the names of them. I hate these filthy things. Now when I pull weeds I can curse them by name not just "I hate you weeds!".
8/8/2011 10:52:39 PM Report AbuseHow can I get rid of creeping charlie growing in my lawn?
7/10/2011 05:56:41 AM Report AbuseNettle is not a weed. It's a native plant here in Washington. And I love what's said about Smartweed: "This weed is NATIVE to areas of North America. Unlike many exotic weeds, it does support wildlife." I work in environmental restoration and we are eradicating SO MUCH ivy, blackberry, knotweed, bindweed, yellow archangel, scotchbroom, etc. PLEASE for the health of our planet, look up which plants are native to your area. Invasives are spreading like crazy. It's disgusting.
6/1/2011 10:13:02 PM Report AbuseLeaves of Plantain Help if you happen to fall and scuff your knees ...Just crinkle leaf and put it onto scuff!
4/5/2011 06:02:43 PM Report AbuseFor bindweed, borrow a neighbor's goat. They love it and do a good job of eating it down to nothing and will even pull it up out of the ground if the soil is kind of soft. It won't hurt the animal as long as no spray of any kind has been used. Hope this helps.
9/26/2010 08:17:43 PM Report AbuseI have transplanted wild violets to the base of pine trees, intermixed with hostas. Those two plants seem to be the only things that grow under pines. They're beautiful and they're perennials. Who could ask for more? I love them.
7/22/2010 02:02:49 PM Report AbuseBINEWOOD: I have delt with this over 50 years. The mother roots and any shoots MUST be dug out and removed from the property or burned. This is the only way to truly free your yard of this pest. It can destroy other plants and trees around it.
7/22/2010 02:00:35 AM Report AbuseActually, I let purslane grow in some spots in my garden. Did you know it is edible? in Mexico, we wash it, chop it, boil it in salt water, chop tomato and onion and fry it, then add finely chopped potatoes and when they are all golden, add the purslane (maybe add an egg or two for added protein) and season (I add some chicken stock and cook it in it until it is reduced). It is very tasty!
6/29/2010 10:36:06 AM Report AbuseNutsedge: I had this in my garden. With a couple of years of this, only a few plants came back. The nut sedge root forms small nodules that stay in the ground when you pull up the root, these are reproductive structures; one needs to get under the root to get it all out, carefully dispose of the nutlets. If possible try not to water, they are not drought tolerant. Be sure to pull before seeds form. Light mulching rarely helps, pre-emergent sprays do not affect the nutlets only the seeds.
6/10/2010 01:36:44 PM Report AbuseI pretty much have all these weeds in my backyard and back paster. Though around the house in the backyard nothing grows and I mean nothing, not one strip of grass, not one weed. I heard it was because of the 100 year old trees around the house. Ha!
3/25/2010 10:43:02 AM Report Abusejdhall135: Sorry, but without being able to see your weed, I can't say for sure what it is. But if you'd like to post a picture on our Share My galleries, I can take a look! Just go to http://www.bhg.com/photos/gardening/
3/22/2010 02:47:49 PM Report AbusePigweed (Amaranth) is a delicious green vegetable similar (but better tasting than spinach) I live in a small town close to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the so-called weed is very prevalent so why not use it.
3/6/2010 11:28:08 AM Report AbuseI enjoyed the weed i.d., but did'nt find the weed I was looking for. Maybe you could id. It looks like a carrot on top,but grows low to the ground and pulled , looks like a thin parsnip. Its in my perenial garden area-we live in N. Texas. near ft. worth. thanx. Dreama
2/23/2010 03:17:28 PM Report Abuse