Top 20 Most Common Weeds in Bermuda

Bermuda's subtropical climate with high humidity and ample rainfall creates an ideal environment for various garden weeds to flourish. Among the most common invaders challenging gardeners and landscapers are Carolina geranium, Mexican fireplant, and Artillery plant, each adept at exploiting the fertile conditions. These prevalent weeds pose a persistent battle, as they can quickly overtake native plants and cultivated areas, necessitating consistent management efforts.

Most Common Weeds

1. Carolina geranium

Carolina geranium is a wildflower with tall stems covered in distinctive, spiky growths that resemble hair. Each pink or white flower has a five-petal shape and grows clustered together with others. One of the most unusual features of the plant is its fruit, which has an elongated, beak-like shape, leading to its common Southern nickname: "Cranesbill."

2. Mexican fireplant

Mexican fireplant is native to tropical America, but it has been naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions in the world. *Euphorbia heterophylla* is a poisonous plant to humans and livestock. It contains a toxic milky sap which can cause strong skin irritation.

3. Mexican tea

Mexican tea (Dysphania ambrosioides) is native to tropical parts of the Americas. Both the leaves and stems have tiny glands that give off a bad-smelling odor. It’s a weed that grows along the sides of roads and stream beds.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

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4. Artillery plant

The artillery plant is often utilized as a groundcover or an ornamental in many landscapes. It's commonly named the "artillery plant" because the males generally produce pollen in an explosive way. It grows best in a humid environment in partial shade or indirect sunlight. It's a particularly popular plant in indoor rock gardens.

5. Creeping woodsorrel

Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) is a flowering herb which grows aggressively. The leaves have a lemony flavor and are often made into tea that's rich in vitamin C. However, if ingested in large amounts the oxalic acid for which the genus is named can begin to block the body's calcium absorption.

6. Water hyacinth

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a fast-growing flowering plant species with ovular, waxy leaves. Water hyacinth is listed as a federal noxious weed in the United States. This species is invasive to ponds, lakes, rivers and other wetland habitats. It forms dense, floating mats of vegetation that restricts light to underwater environments.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

7. Common dandelion

*Taraxacum officinale*, widely known as common dandelion, is a herbaceous perennial that can be found in temperate regions all over the world, in habitats with moist soils. The most popular feature of this plant is its fruits, furry spheres that are easily carried by the wind. Although it is generally considered a weed, common dandelion is actually edible and very nutritious.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

8. Jersey cudweed

Jersey cudweed is a biennial herb with hairy leaves and small, light-colored flowers. The species is thought to be native to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, but it has become widespread across the Americas as well. Jersey cudweed, a hardy generalist, sometimes out-competes native species and is considered invasive in parts of the southwestern U.S.

9. Common purslane

Portulaca oleracea, colloquially known as common purslane, is an annual succulent species with reddish stems and tiny yellow, five-petal flowers. It is used for culinary purposes in various parts of the world, most often raw, in salads. Common purslane is also a good companion plant for crops that thrive in moist soils.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

10. Shaggy soldier

A member of the daisy family, Galinsoga quadriradiata can be an invasive weed that is especially harmful to organic crops. The sticky seeds can hang on to livestock and people, creating an additional nuisance. Each plant can produce over 7000 seeds, and it can reduce crop production by up to half.

11. Ribwort plantain

Ribwort plantain grows in a number of different habitats as long as it has enough sunlight. Its leaves have characteristic parallel veins that make it easy to identify. The heads of ribwort plantains get popped off in some common British children's games. Its seeds are critical food sources for songbirds, and its leaves are eaten by rabbits and deer.

12. White mouth dayflower

White mouth dayflower (Commelina erecta) is a perennial wildflower found in coastal uplands, scrub habitats, and pinelands. The flower consists of two large petals situated right at the top of the stem. These blooms are purplish-blue, and there's a much smaller white petal below these two. This is why the flower has "White Mouth" in its name.

13. Common sowthistle

Common sowthistle is a common weed originated in Europe and West Asia. Alongside many sister species that hard to distinguish, it is considered to be an invasive plant in many parts of the world. Its leaves with some bitter taste are editable either green as a part of a salad or cooked in various ways.

14. Lambsquarters

Lambsquarters has many other names, including pigweed, goosefoot, and bacon weed. This plant seems to appear out of nowhere and is considered by many to be a pesky weed. However, the greens of this plant are edible, can be prepared similar to spinach, and are packed with nutrients.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

15. Mexican prickly poppy

Argemone mexicana has been naturalized in many parts of the world. It is extremely tolerant of drought and poor soil, but is poisonous to grazing animals. Its seed pods secrete a pale yellow latex when cut open. In India, the mexican prickly poppy is used in the Holika Dahan festival, in which adults and children worship by offering flowers.

Growth Rate:

Moderate

16. Henbit deadnettle

Henbit deadnettle is a very important part of the North American and Eurasian ecosystems, as it is utilized by bees and other pollinators as a source of nectar. Additionally, the seeds are favored by birds and the leaves, stems, and flowers are edible to humans either raw or cooked.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

17. Prostrate sandmat

Prostrate sandmat (Euphorbia prostrata) is a plant species native to tropical regions of North and South America and the central United States. Prostrate sandmat has spread all over the globe and is considered an invasive species. This resilient plant often sprouts up through cracks in asphalt on roadsides.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

18. Nut grass

Nut grass can be found all over the world. This perennial plant gets its name because its tubers resemble nuts. Nut grass is considered one of the most invasive plants in the world, and among the most difficult to eradicate. It reduces crop yields and is resistant to most herbicides.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

19. Gallant soldier

Gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora) is named after the Spanish botanist Galinsoga for the genus, and parviflora means it has many small flowers. It is a plant species related to the sunflower, though its flowers are tiny. Nevertheless, each plant generates thousands of seeds. This species is poisonous to goats so ranchers need to avoid this weed as much as possible.

20. Virginia pepperweed

Virginia pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum) is a plant species native to North America with the exclusion of certain parts of Canada. Every part of the virginia pepperweed plant is edible and has a peppery taste. This plant can be used as a substitute for black pepper.

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