Identify weed/plant - Ask Extension
Can you identify the the weed in the attached 2 pictures please? Every year I always have this weed appear in my Hosta beds as well as where I plant m...
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Identify weed/plant #876429
Asked July 08, 2024, 8:06 PM EDT
Can you identify the the weed in the attached 2 pictures please? Every year I always have this weed appear in my Hosta beds as well as where I plant my annuals.I have been using PREEN to prevent weeds however it has little effect on keeping this weed from growing. John Hanks Grand Rapids Michigan
Kent County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi John,
The plant in the photo is Clearweed (Pilea pumila).
Hand removal is really the best solution to removing this plant. It doesn't have a very deep root system and is pretty easy to pull out. I would recommend removing it from unwanted places before it goes to seed, its seeds are windblown, so they will travel quite a bit. If it's coming up in the lawn, mowing should effectively get rid of it.
It is a native plant and is a host plant for several butterfly caterpillars, so that might be an incentive to leave some of it in shadier spots.
Clearweed: Weed or Valuable Wildflower? — Lehigh/Northampton County — Master Gardener (psu.edu)
Thank you for using Ask Extension.
Pam
MSUE Master Gardener
The plant in the photo is Clearweed (Pilea pumila).
Hand removal is really the best solution to removing this plant. It doesn't have a very deep root system and is pretty easy to pull out. I would recommend removing it from unwanted places before it goes to seed, its seeds are windblown, so they will travel quite a bit. If it's coming up in the lawn, mowing should effectively get rid of it.
It is a native plant and is a host plant for several butterfly caterpillars, so that might be an incentive to leave some of it in shadier spots.
Clearweed: Weed or Valuable Wildflower? — Lehigh/Northampton County — Master Gardener (psu.edu)
Thank you for using Ask Extension.
Pam
MSUE Master Gardener
