Top 20 Most Common Weeds in Texas

Under the vast Texas skies, a medley of climates from arid deserts to humid coasts nurtures a diverse array of flora, including invasive garden weeds that stubbornly stake their claim. Among the most prevalent, Poison ivy, Straggler daisy, and Pokeweed emerge as persistent adversaries in the Texan gardener's battle against unwanted greenery. These weeds exemplify the struggle to maintain curated landscapes amidst a tapestry where hardy invaders thrive.

Most Common Weeds

1. Poison ivy

In pop culture, poison ivy is a symbol of an obnoxious weed because, despite its unthreatening looks, it gives a highly unpleasant contact rash to the unfortunate person who touches it. Still, it is commonly eaten by many animals, and the seeds are a favorite with birds. The leaves turn bright red in fall. Its sister species, Western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii), is not considered to be invasive in the United States, but is noxious in Australia and New Zealand.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

2. Straggler daisy

The straggler daisy is a low-growing ground cover plant that tolerates shade and can withstand moderate foot traffic. The straggler daisy blooms for the entire spring, summer, and well into fall. In frost-free areas, year-round blooming is possible and the flowers of this plant are a sunny yellow color.

3. Carolina coralbead

Carolina coralbead (Cocculus carolinus) is a plant species native to the eastern and central United States. Carolina coralbead generally grows in woodlands. This species is poisonous in large amounts. Carolina coralbead grows quickly in gardens.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

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4. Pokeweed

Although its berries look juicy and tempting, the fruits and the root of pokeweed are toxic and should not be eaten. Pokeweed is considered a pest species by farmers but is nevertheless often grown as an ornamental plant. Its berries can be made into pokeberry ink as well.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

5. Green milkweed

Green milkweed (Asclepias viridis) is a perennial herb native to the southeast and south-central U.S. The plant sports green flowers, and, like other milkweeds, produces a thick, milky white substance when cut. Milkweeds, green milkweed included, are the typical host plants of monarch butterflies, which lay their eggs on the plant's leaves.

6. Tievine

Ipomoea cordatotrilobais a type of weed native to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and South America. Tievine has one heart-shaped leaf, and one leaf with three lobes. The flowers vary from pink to lavender to dark purple with five distinct lines that some say resemble a star pattern. Tievine is considered an invasive species in some areas.

7. Giant ragweed

Giant ragweed, a native plant to North America, is an allergy sufferer's nightmare. It causes dramatic allergic reactions in more than 23 million Americans annually. In spite of this, the wildflower is edible, and evidence suggests that Native Americans actually planted it as a crop and harvested the seeds for their oil. Giant ragweed can be invasive, however, and out-competes many native species. Modern horticulture practices recommend against planting it.

8. Pepper vine

Pepper vine (Ampelopsis arborea) is a plant native to the southwestern region of the United States. It is planted as an ornamental vine in gardens, but gardeners must be careful because it can rapidly grow and pull down the branches from other trees.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

9. Silverleaf nightshade

Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) is a common weed that grows throughout North America, South America, and Africa. In South Africa, it is called "Satan's bush". Ingestion of silverleaf nightshade is thought to be toxic to horses.

10. Southern dewberry

The southern dewberry is a delicious and edible fruit-bearing plant with dark blueberries that can appear black. The taste is sweet and can be used for jams or pies. The leaves, meanwhile, can be used to make tea. It is a special delicacy in the southern United States, where the Rubus trivialis originated.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

11. 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

12. Mustang grape

Mustang grape (*Vitis mustangensis*) is a flowering grapevine that produces grapes. The grapes from mustang grape are a popular ingredient in home-brewed wine. This species has leaves with a white, satiny surface on their lower side.

13. Spreading hedgeparsley

Spreading hedgeparsley (Torilis arvensis) is a plant species native to Europe. Torilis arvensis is commonly known as spreading hedgeparsley, tall sock-destroyer, or common hedge parsley. This species has been introduced to North America and is generally considered to be a weed.

Growth Rate:

Moderate

14. Blue field-madder

Blue field-madder is a common weed found in fields, meadows, disturbed areas, and forest edges. It has tiny lavender or pink flowers. The fleshy roots of this plant can be used to make a red dye, however, it is not as potent as traditional madder.

15. Johnson grass

Experts consider johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) to be one of the ten worst weeds in the world. If frost or heat causes the plant to wilt, it can produce enough hydrogen cyanide to kill livestock. It grows at such a prodigious rate, it can choke out other crops. It’s named after Colonel William Johnson, an Alabama plantation owner who sowed lots of its seed around 1840.

Growth Rate:

Rapid

16. Toothed spurge

Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) has jagged leaves with toothed edges which explains both its common and Latin names (dentata means "toothed"). This spurge is a first-growth species that occupies disturbed land like roadsides and waste ground. The plant is classed as a noxious weed in some US states.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Frostweed

Frostweed is a tall biennial species that can reach heights up to 2 m. In the summer through the fall, it has sprays of white flowers, from which its name is derived. Frostweed is native to the southeastern United States, where it is often found at the edge of forests or in thickets.

20. Late boneset

The late boneset is a large-sized weed originates in the eastern part of the United States. It blooms in fall and produces a large amount of tiny white flower heads. It is pollinated by insects instead of wind as many Eupatorium species did, which makes it relatively less aggressive.

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