Weeds and invasive plants can out-compete our desired plants, reduce the attractiveness of our landscapes, and even cause physical harm to people and animals. Identifying and understanding the life cycle of weeds can be important in determining the best control methods and protecting our native landscapes.
This detailed, illustrated guide will help you identify 54 of the most common problem weed species in the north central region of the United States. It is divided into two main sections: grass and grass-like weeds and broadleaf weeds.
Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is an aggressive Eurasian member of the carrot family that grows in sunny areas and tolerates dry to wet soil types. Very invasive, it can overtake roadsides and fields. Contact with this plant can cause severe skin blisters and permanent scarring. Learn how to identify and control this invasive plant in this factsheet.
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Have you noticed yellow flowers blooming individually on tall, scraggly stems or fluffy seed heads like extra-large dandelions along the roadside? There are two species of Tragopogon, introduced weeds that both have the common name yellow goatsbeard and are both common in disturbed areas. To learn more about these plants read this article…
You’ve likely seen flat, mat-like plants spreading in your garden, on the roadside, or maybe even growing from the cracks in the driveway. This is most likely spotted spurge, a native plant with weedy characteristics. To learn more about this annual plant in spurge family (of which poinsettia is a member), read this article…
Do you recognize those blue flowers along the roadside that will keep blooming until frost (if not mowed off)? That’s chicory, an escaped, naturalized European plant that has been used for food and forage since ancient times, although most Americans know it just as a weed. To learn more about Chicorium intybus, read this article…
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…
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…
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 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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
