Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule

With small but pretty pink flowers, henbit might be considered an ornamental plant, but is a weed for most people. This introduced relative of the more-refined, perennial spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) that is commonly cultivated in gardens is an annual or winter annual. To learn more about this plant, read this article…

Wild Cucumber, Echinocystis lobata

Have you noticed white-flowering vines engulfing trees or shrubs, particularly in more rural areas, lately? Wild cucumber is a warm season annual that becomes quite conspicuous in late summer at the peak of its growth and bloom. Although it is in the same family as cultivated cucumber, this species is not edible. To learn more about this native plant, read this article…

Catchweed Bedstraw, Galium aparine

Every spring I rip out handfuls of a sticky annual weed with whorls of leaves along its lanky stems. This species (Galium aparine) is a low-brow relative of the nice, ornamental perennial Sweet Woodruff (G. odorata).  To learn more about this annoying weed, read this article…

Yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris

Yellow toadflax is a weedy Eurasian species of Linaria that has naturalized throughout the country. Although it has pretty yellow flowers, this perennial spreads by creeping rhizomes, making it difficult to control. Learn more about this plant in this article…

Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus

Have you seen those tall spikes poking up along roadsides or in gardens from wooly leaves? Soon the yellow flowers will start to open (if they haven’t already) on these common mullein plants. If you’d like to learn more about this widespread weed, read this article…

Common Yellow Woodsorrel, Oxalis stricta

Common yellow woodsorrel is a low-growing weed found throughout most of the US and almost all of Wisconsin. It can be a problem in gardens and lawns. Learn more about this species in this article…

Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti

Weeds are an unfortunate part of every garden. Velvetleaf is one common species that occurs primarily in the southern half of the state. Learn more about this rather distinctive and conspicuous weed in this article…

Common Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris

With inconspicuous flowers and relatively short stature, and often growing in disturbed sites, common groundsel is often overlooked. This European annual can be locally common and spread rapidly, but may be absent or uncommon in other areas. Read more about this introduced weed in this article…

Black Medic, Medicago lupulina

Do you have prostrate weeds with small yellow, clover-like flowers in your garden beds or lawn? This leguminous plant from Europe and temperate Asia, commonly called black medic, is also called yellow trefoil, black clover and hop medic. Read more about this annual weed and how to deal with it in this article…

Mistletoe

Hanging high in trees in warmer climates, mistletoe is a plant that has a long history of myth and tradition dating back to ancient times. To find out more about this interesting group of parasitic plants, read this article…

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