MSU Extension Christmas Trees

Accurate weed identification is the first step in a successful weed management program. Weed species respond differently to different management strategies. Whether you choose chemical, cultural or mechanical control measures, you need to know what weed species are present. Failure to identify the weed problem accurately may lead to wasted time and money or excess pesticide applied to the environment.

Because most weeds are most effectively controlled at a very young stage, it is important to identify them as early as possible. Unfortunately, many weeds look very similar at a young stage. This guide is designed to help identify seedling weeds while there is still time to control them.

This guide includes 54 of the most common problem weed species in the North Central Region. It is divided into two main sections: grass and grass like weeds, and broadleaf weeds.

Grass weeds are especially difficult to distinguish, so an identification key is included on page 3. This key gives you a step-by-step progression of questions that will help you identify each species correctly.

An illustrated guide to broadleaf weed characteristics is included on page 2. There is also a glossary of terms on page 1. Referring to these sections will help you understand many of the terms used in the written descriptions of each species. An alphabetical index of the weed species is included on page 1 for quick reference.

Amaranth, Palmer (Amaranthus palmeri), Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), Bindweed, Field (Convolvulus arvensis), Brome, Downy (Bromus tectorum), Buckwheat, Wild (Polygonum convolvulus), Campion, White (Silene alba), Carrot, Wild (Daucus carota), Chickweed, Common (Stellaria media), Cocklebur, Common (Xanthium strumarium),  Crabgrass, Large (Digitaria sanguinalis), Crabgrass, Smooth (Digitaria ischaemum), Cupgrass, Woolly (Eriochloa villosa), Dandelion, Common (Taraxacum officinale), Foxtail, Giant (Setaria faberi), Foxtail, Green (Setaria viridis), Foxtail, Yellow (Setaria glauca), Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), Horseweed (Mares tail) (Conyza canadensis), Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), Kochia (Kochia scoparia),  Ladys thumb (Polygonum persicaria), Lambsquarters, Common (Chenopodium album), Lettuce, Prickly (Lactuca serriola), Mallow, Venice (Hibiscus trionum), Millet, Wild-Proso (Panicum miliaceum), Morning glory, Ivy leaf (Ipomoea hederacea),  Muhly, Wire stem (Muhlenbergia frondosa),  Mustard, Wild (Brassica kaber), Nightshade, Eastern Black (Solanum ptycanthum),  Nightshade, Hairy (Solanum sarrachoides), Nutsedge, Yellow (Cyperus esculentus), Oat, Wild (Avena fatua), Panicum, Fall (Panicum dichotomiflorum), Pennycress, Field (Thlaspi arvense), Pepperweed, Virginia (Lepidium virginicum), Pigweed, Redroot and Smooth, (Amaranthus retroflexus, A. hybridus) Purslane, Common (Portulaca oleracea), Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens),  Ragweed, Common (Ambrosia artemisiifolia),  Ragweed, Giant (Ambrosia trifida),  Rocket, Yellow (Barbarea vulgaris), Sandbur, Longspine (Cenchrus longispinus),  Shattercane (Sorghum bicolor), Shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Sida, Prickly (Sida spinosa), Smartweed, Pennsylvania (Polygonum pensylvanicum), Sunflower, Common (Helianthus annuus), Tansymustard, Pinnate (Descurainia pinnata), Thistle, Bull (Cirsium vulgare), Thistle, Canada (Cirsium arvense), Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), Waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis, A. tuberculatus), Witchgrass (Panicum capillare)