A-Z of weeds by common name

Comments

1. An excellent website. Thank you!
   

   - Anon. 2---0-2005



2. I have a climbing weed (I think) taking over my back fence. Very green in colour with a kind of heart shaped leaf - Not at all waxy more fleshy in texture. Any ideas??
   

   - Germaine Knight 5---0-2005



3. Without a little more information it is difficult to determine what the climbing weed is and whether it is a cultivated or wild plant. The two climbing 'weeds' that come to mind are black bryony and the hedge bindweed.
   

   - Bill Bond 5---0-2005



4. We are here in C. Wexford, Eire and are trying to establish a flower meadow on c. 9 acres. We have been greatly assisted by Kings, who have supllied us with a special mix of flowers and grasses, according to our soil type (acid, shale) but have now been advised by a farmer friend that, in addition to Redshank, we have a weed called locally "Lamb's Quarter", which is growing in abundance.
   
   We will mow the field during the next week so that the Redshank and Lamb's quarter do not seed, but wonder if anyone knows what Lamb's Quarter might be?
   
   It is tall, with raggedy leaves and has very small buds at the top of the stem, rather like an inverted bunch of grapes. We're told that the stems become hard and woody.
   
   
   

   - pennyfoley@fsmail.net 7---0-2005



5. Lamb's quarters is one of the many common names for fat-hen (Chenopodium album). It is the name used in North America in particular. It produces an abundance of seeds that will persist in the soil for many years so it's a good idea to prevent them seeding. The seeds on the cut down stems will continue to mature and will become viable too though so don't leave the cut stems laying in the field.
   

   - Bill Bond 7---0-2005



6. Dear Mr Bond,
   
   Thank you so much for the information on Lamb's quarters.
   
   The field is to be cut tomorrow to prevent the weeds flowering.
   
   Hopefully, we will be sucessful, eventually.
   

   - pennyfoley@fsmail.net 7---0-2005



7. I have a weed growing in the pebbles as well as the border, can't seem to pull any root out. looksalmost liike a flat fern does not get very long about a foot , but lays on the ground.
   

   - Jean Parkinson 7---0-2005



8. Jean
   
   Not really enough information to be sure what this is. It could be horsetail if you mean it has feathery foliage and this would not have roots in the conventional sense.
   

   - Bill Bond 8---0-2005



9. I have what I think is a type of weed growing in my flower beds. It is shaped like a small horn from an animal. It appears that it comes in two different colors. The first is a dark orange in color with a light cream color at the bottom. The other is cream at the bottom then turns to orange and then the top quarter or so is medium brown in color. At the tip there is a hole, and it appears to be rubbery. It only last a day and then withers and dies. It comes back in a few days. Any ideas? I haven't touched it as no one seems to know if it is dangerous.
   

   - Mel 8---0-2005



10. It is difficult to tell from the description but it sounds more like a fungus than a weed.
    

    - Bill bond 8---0-2005



11. As a child in Indiana we used to pick young lamb's quarter as a edible green. When cooked it tasted much like spinach. Not sure if this is the same weed. The one side had a silver sheen to the leaf. We only used the very young parts of the plant.
    

    - marty lassiter 2---0-2006



12. it would be helpful if the latin names were beside the commen names so you could find both names with out having to clik on each one inturn . i am doing a coures my home woke is to find the latin name to a list of weeds i have an i have 15 and i will find time comsumimg this way
    

    - kay finch 4---0-2006



13. I have about 40 large cane like weeds growing in my garden, the dont flower just leave,the tend to grow in groups of about 10 plus.there growing in the grass and flowerbed, the tallest is about 6ft and it took about 3-4 weeks to grow that height. pls pls help.
    

    - Danielle 5---0-2006



14. Danielle- I am not sure what your weeds are without more information but it sounds like it could be Japanese knotweed which is a tenacious weed once established. Follow the link above or click here.
    

    - Gareth Davies 5---0-2006



15. Have just taken over an allotment near canal and above a stream, there are al lot of deep large brown hollow tube like roots with loads of small white roots all around.
    

    - JANE kEMPSTER 5---0-2006



16. I can't find my weed any where on the internet. it's broad leaved like a dock but is covered in very irratating prickely hairs. it can grow up to two feet before having little blue flowers and has a tap foot thats usually twice as long as the plant is high. it's growing in the lawn, between the paving and popping up in gaps in the wall. any ideas? x
    

    - michaela White 6---0-2006



17. Michaela
    
    The weed you have is the 'green alkanet' (Pentaglottis sempervirens is one of its latin names). The flowers are a vivid blue and some people have it as a garden plant but the rootstock is very persistent and it sets seed freely too.
    

    - Bill Bond 6---0-2006



18. How do you get rid of an oak tree? (it's a weed in my garden!)
    

    - John Evans 1---1-2006



19. John- not sure how serious your question is but depends how big it is! If it is a seedling then simply pull it up. If it is a mature tree you will need the help of a qualified tree surgeon to prevent damage to your garden and property. However, you should be aware that you might need planning permission to remove a mature tree. Trees of outstanding worth or beauty are often covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). This restricts the amount of pruning that may be done without permission from your local planning authority. Contact your local authority for their arboricultural services department to check the TPO register before commencing work on the tree.
    

    - Gareth Davies 1---1-2006



20. im looking for a weed killer or a substanceto control mallow that over powering our horses field
    

    - Tom Taggart 6---0-2007



21. can anybody identify a weed that looks like a cross between a thistle and a dock. the leaves are covered in prickles top and bottom, the red stem is covered in small spikes(thousands of them).it is about 3-4ft tall and seems resistant to farm weed killer-it is sprouting from the leaf joints. it doesn't look like a teazle the farmer has growing in his garden.
    

    - michael pearce 9---0-2007



22. i have a prolific weed in my borders and lawn, which nothing seems to eliminate. It looks like a type of lichen with small circular leaves maybe 2 -3 mm diameter. It is laborious work trying to remove it by hand. Any ideas?
    

    - bob wiggin 9---0-2007



23. great web site for homework-science :)
    

    - lizzie 0---1-2007



24. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND INFORMATION ON WEEDS BUT WHEN I OPENED IT I COULD GET EVERYTHING I WANTED.IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL SITE -THANKS BYE
    

    - Chandan 3---0-2008



25. i have tiny blue flowers that grow all over my lawn, and all over neighbouring lawns in the grass, they are scarecly taller than the grass blades. I live in toronto ontario. are these weeds?
    

    - rebecca 3---0-2008



26. We have one and a half acres of grass (sown last year on heavy clay soil) which has been completely taken over by clover. We live in an exposed, windy place and the seed has just blown in. We are able to put sheep on about half of this area to eat the clover out but would like suggestions for how to get the grass back to grass in the rest of the area - clover grows so quickly and needs too much mowing (using too much petrol!). The area in question has children and pets playing on it and trees growing in it. All suggestions welcome.
    

    - Rosy Hayward 4---0-2008



27. PLEASE can somebody help with a columbine problem? (The climbing plant that has heart shaped leaves and twists itself around absolutely everything!)
    
    It has spread below ground in my strawberry beds, so I cannot dig out all those long bits of root. It grows new 6 inch shoots every two days, and hand weeding is taking impossible amounts of time, but seems the only way to stop it strangling the strawberry plants.
    
    PLEASE share any experience you may have, I'm desperate! (And webmaster, please add it to the web-site A-Z list too)
    Thanks.
    

    - Rose Lin 5---0-2008



28. A brilliant website. I have just finished a report and it was invaluable in its information
    

    - Susie 5---0-2008



29. I have a weed in my yard that grow very low to the ground ,it does not bloom and I have not seen any seeds on it but it has small brown spade shaped leaves that sharp tip that comes off and stick into your skin. Do you have any idea what it is and how I can clear it out?
    

    - Larry 7---0-2008



30. I have a weed in my garden that has lots of small pretty pink flowers, if left unchecked it grows about 6ft tall. My soil was clay and farmland but I have improved it with lots of manure. It seems to pop up everywhere and I don't know what it is. It's not unatractive, but i'm worried it will overtake my other flowers.
    

    - tracey 8---0-2008



31. someone mentioned Pentaglottis sempervirens - it is taking over our garden and I was wondering what I need to do to get rid of it. There are two very large plants that we pulled up but there are little seedlings coming from all over the roots. Is there a natural way to get rid of these once and for all?
    thanks v much
    

    - connie 8---0-2008



32. I am having a problem with some weeds. It seems no matter what I do to them they will not die. They are low to the ground, with heart-shaped leaves the size of my palm. The entire plant consists of a bunch of 5 to 10 leaves. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
    

    - Jonathan 9---0-2008



33. We have a wild weed--looks like an ivy vine that climbs and tangles around the trees. In the fall it has 2inch prickly pods on it. Were in central Minnesota--does anyone know what this could be?
    

    - Jean 9---0-2008



34. Does any one know what the annual nettles latin name is if so thanks as it will help loads
    

    - Leonard clements 9---0-2008



35. good website overall and thanks for the information being allowed to be used for study as it is what I needed for my assignment one for NCHORT course as it proves this site is good for somethings and you all should feel proud of the hard work looking for those weeds and naming them as I certainly am proud of your hard work as it helps others hard work slightly easier and if I could show how proud i am i would but i would reccomend this site to any person in future for the same reasons it was set for
    

    - Leonard Clements 9---0-2008



36. Just a comment
    Great to see all these in A to Z
    Shame they called weeds some can be invasive but just to let every one know that 95% of these are beneficial for wildlife in our gardens and that they support 40 species of insect including some of our most colourful butterflies. Don't be to tidy!
    

    - Iris 1---1-2008



37. It has a long thin carrot shaped root which is very dark in color,grows flat on the ground, runners have 2 leaves say every 40 mm and at each set of leaves has flat paper type thorns in a bundle. at one stage of its life it has little yellow flowers
    

    - Cyril Wegner 08-12-2008 2---0-2009



38. Can i have facts about Arctium lappa please?
    

    - DAVID HEART 2---0-2009



39. Great Website but some information missing for example the burdocks lesser and graeter
    

    - Lily 2---0-2009



40. What a wonderful website, great info, pictures. Very easy to read and useful. Could have used info on Purslane, Barnyard grass and Canada Goldenrod. Oh well can't have everything. Well done.
    

    - Marie-Laure 3---0-2009