Top 20 Most Common Weeds in Chile

Chile's diverse climate, ranging from the arid north to the humid central regions, provides ample opportunity for garden weeds to prosper. Prevalent weeds such as Small Nettle, Petty spurge, and Common chickweed are amongst those that gardeners frequently grapple with. These invaders thrive in the rich soils of Chilean gardens, challenging the maintenance of both aesthetic landscapes and productive horticulture, necessitating diligent weed management practices to curb their spread.

Most Common Weeds

1. Small Nettle

Small Nettle (Urtica urens) is a herbaceous annual flowering nettle known by many common names. Small Nettle is also called the dog nettle or burning nettle because it "bites" when touching (in the same way as stinging nettle). Small Nettle is native to the Eurasian continent. Butterfly species feed on this plant.

2. Petty spurge

Petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus) is an annual plant from Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is fast-growing and has become invasive in some countries because it outcompetes other species for resources such as moisture and sunlight. Petty spurge latex is mildly toxic, has nevertheless attracted the attention of researchers in the US and Germany who hope to isolate useful compounds from it.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

3. Common plantain

While native to Europe, the common plantain was one of the first plants to reach North America through early European explorers. Native Americans have referred to Plantago major as 'white man's footprint', as it disrupted many local ecosystems by its introduction.

Growth Rate:

Moderate

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4. Common chickweed

The common chickweed gets its name due to the fact that chickens love to eat it, though they're not alone in that respect. Though it's often considered a nuisance weed, most parts of this plant can be consumed raw or cooked and used similar to spinach. The saponins in common chickweed are slightly toxic but will only have an effect if ingested in huge quantities.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Jimsonweed

Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) is a species of nightshade plant native to Central America which is considered an invasive species in more temperate climates. It can be toxic if ingested in significant quantities. It has a distinctive, strong smell. The jimsonweed gets its common name from Jamestown, Virginia, where soldiers ingested the plants exhibited altered mental states afterward.

9. Cleavers

Cleavers are widely-distributed weeds found around the world. They grow many nearly invisible hook-shaped spines on their stems. These make the plant feel sticky to the skin, and can cause contact dermatitis in some individuals. Cleavers come from the same family as coffee and can be used to create a less caffeinated version of coffee.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

10. Common stork's-bill

Common stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium) is a hardy species most at home in deserts or other dry conditions. Common stork's-bill is also referred to as pinweed. It has pin-shaped or stork-bill-shaped seed pods that burst explosively to propel seeds away from the parent plant. The unique spiral tails of the seeds then push them slowly into the dirt as the air around changes humidity and temperature.

11. 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

12. Pellitory of the wall

Pellitory of the wall (Parietaria judaica) is a species of flowering plant that is native to Europe, North Africa and parts of west Asia. It is an introduced species elsewhere in the world and is widely considered a weed. It proliferates in disturbed areas and is sometimes known as “asthma weed” because its pollen is an allergen for many people.

13. Cheeseweed mallow

Cheeseweed mallow (Malva parviflora) is a plant species native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. Cheeseweed mallow has a variety of other common names including Egyptian mallow, marshmallow, small-flowered mallow, and mallow. This species is naturalized in many places.

14. London rocket

The london rocket is an annual herb in the Sisymbrium irio family that can grow up to 91 cm tall. The yellow flowers are small with four petals. The leaves, seeds, and flowers of this plant are all edible. The Bedouin people have been known to utilize the leaves of the london rocket as a substitute for tobacco.

15. Mouse Barley

Mouse Barley is not an actual cereal grain as its name implies, but instead is a species of grass. It is an important crop in pastures and can provide significant nutrition for foraging livestock. Mouse Barley can grow to 30 cm in height.

16. Poison hemlock

As the name infers, the poison hemlock is a highly poisonous plant and has been known to intoxicate a variety of livestock. The leaves are similar to carrots and parsley, fooling most herbivores into consuming it. Poison hemlock can be lethal when ingested.

17. Prostrate knotweed

Prostrate knotweed (Polygonum aviculare) is a low-growing species that can root practically anywhere. It produces many small white flowers each summer and produces plenty of seeds that can survive for years. Its seeds can lay dormant in soils, and once they see sunlight, they will start to germinate. Because it grows so dwarf, mowing is not effective in removing it.

Growth Rate:

Slow

18. Birdeye speedwell

Birdeye speedwell (Veronica persica) is a plant species native to Eurasia. It has been introduced all over the world, but is generally considered to be a weed because it can adversely affect soil health. The fruit of the birdeye speedwell is roughly heart-shaped, with two lobes that angle away from each other.

19. Shepherd's purse

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is native to Eastern Europe and Asia minor. Having spread and become naturalized around the world, this herbaceous plant is typically considered a weed. Shepherd's purse is considered a "protocarnivore" because it attracts nematodes (small worms in the soil) and poisons them with its seeds. By eliminating nematodes, this plant enriches the surrounding soil.

Growth Rate:

Moderate

20. Field bindweed

Field bindweed (*Convolvulus arvensis*) is a native Eurasian plant related to morning glory. It is considered an invasive species in non-native areas because it competes with other plants for sunlight and moisture. Field bindweed is very hard to eradicate because its taproots grow so deep, and its seeds can remain viable for decades.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

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