Dog Fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) is a tall annual or short-lived perennial plant native to North America. The leaves are highly aromatic—some say in a good way, while others think it stinks. The plant grows tall in one season, easily reaching 5 to 6 feet in height. While a few gardeners like its open, wispy growth habit, most people consider it a weed. The plant produces a copious number of seeds in the fall which are blown by the wind, making it somewhat invasive.
Chambers Bitter
is a noxious annual summer weed in the Euphorbia family. The plant looks like a tiny mimosa tree with compound leaves. From a very young age it begins to bloom on the midrib on the underside of the foliage,
so you never notice the blooms or the resulting seeds, until it is too late. If left unchecked, it can grow to be three feet tall or more and loaded with seeds--each plant can produce thousands of seeds to come back to haunt you next year.
Don’t ignore this one or you will have it for life. It is slow to get growing in the spring, preferring warm temperatures. It is quite happy this year.
Mulberry Weed is another villainous summer annual weed.
It gets its common name mulberry weed, because young mulberry tree seedlings look similar. This is another weed that flowers
and sets seeds early in its life. Once ripe, the seed pods can explode,
sending seeds hither and yon.
Someone asked if all the pictures I used of these weeds were from my yard. Thankfully, they are not. While I do have chambers bitter growing in my garden, it is not as rampant as in past year, but it is trying. I do not have any dog fennel, and only limited mulberry weed, but I do have plenty of other weeds. Poison ivy and Virginia creeper are top on the list this season, along with crabgrass, and a few others. Be looking for more mystery weeds this week