Annual mercury is a widely distributed plant that is native to regions of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It has been introduced to several other parts of the world, including areas within the Americas, the Caribbean, and Oceania. The species thrives in a variety of habitats outside its original range, often becoming naturalized in those locales.

Annual mercury is moderately toxic to dogs, cats, and humans; the entire plant can cause poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and headaches. Prompt veterinary or medical attention is essential if any part of annual mercury is ingested.

Annual mercury is a common weed that originally hails from the Mediterranean region. As a weed, it bears all the classic markers that make it a bane for gardeners. Annual mercury has an incredible ability to reproduce at an alarming rate, which is primarily through seeding. Because its seeds can spread far and wide and germinate rapidly, it can take over a space in a short amount of time. Annual mercury is also extremely adaptive and can survive in various soil types and conditions, adding to its invasive nature. The plant's invasive nature is harmful to gardens, as it tends to outcompete native plant species, thereby causing ecological damage. The weeds' high rate of spread makes eradicating it a challenging task once it has established itself. This weed mainly propagates through seeds, which can easily spread over swathes of land, helped by the wind, water, or through animals. Its seed spreads contribute most to its weed-like behavior.

The best season for removal of annual mercury is during late spring or early summer, as this is when the plant is actively growing but before it has the chance to flower and produce seeds. This is to prevent the spread of this invasive plant to other parts of your garden. The removal methods are as follows: