The plant known as arrowleaf sida originated in tropical and subtropical regions and has since been introduced to various areas across South America, Central America, and the Pacific. Its proliferation extends to major regions within these continents, indicating a wide-ranging adaptability to diverse climatic conditions and environments.

Arrowleaf sida is a broadleaf weed with a deep taproot that does not appear on any state invasive species lists, but it widely considered to have invasive properties. It's a different story in Australia, where arrowleaf sida is treated as a serious environmental weed and is actively managed. It emerges in pinelands and non-cultivated areas in the spring and early summer. It also presents a problem in pastures. The plant is inedible and can eradicate edible grasses. In pastures, it can poison livestock. Growing in forests, the weed can choke out native plant species. Dried flower pods release seeds in the fall, and these are easily carried by humans or animals, helping the weed to continue its spread.

The best time to remove arrowleaf sida is in the late spring or early summer before it begins to produce seeds. If left until seeds are produced, removal becomes much more complicated as it gives the weed the opportunity to multiply. Here are some methods for controlling or removing this weed: