Lawn burweed, is one of nine species of the Burweed genus in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. It is a small, low, fast-growing, herbaceous, broadleaf annual, typically seen in winter, growing in lawns. It is listed as a noxious weed in several southern states from OR south to CA to FL and north to VA. Either full sun or partial shade in stressed, worn, or bare areas of turfgrass is where it grows best reaching height of 2 inches and a spread of 6 inches. It is known for its tiny sharp-needled seeds and small feathery leaves that have the appearance of parsley. The seeds are contained in a pod that appears in the junction of branches and they can hook onto clothing, shoes or other equipment and travel great distances. The plant develops a number of creeping stems that produce shoots that, if left alone, will form a low ground cover. When the plant matures, it displays small, bright yellow flowers. In some areas of the country, the plants is known as Bindi Patches with the reputation that they cannot be walked on barefoot. This includes dogs and cats, which tend to avoid sites where the weed appears. Healthy turfgrass is one of its biggest competitors. Manually remove the weeds by pulling up the plant including the root; however, this should be done before seeding. Because of its prostrate growth habit, it is very difficult to mow it. Manage with herbicides that target broadleaf plants. Aerating the soil also tends to reduce the presence of lawn burweed. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. This species is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 2 in. | Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Prostrate
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Small feathery leaves resembling parsley. The leaves are borne on stalks up to 3/4 inch long and have deeply divided leaf blades. These relatively small leaf blades (3/4 inch long and 1/2 inch wide) are covered in soft hairs (i.e. pilose). The first leaves are arranged in a rosette, while leaves are also alternately arranged along the stems.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Head; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Tiny yellow green disk flowers (no ray flowers) in the leaf axils. The flower-heads are roughly hemispherical in shape, and 1/4 inch across when the 'seeds' are mature. The flowering season is February-July.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
The flattened 'seeds' are less than a 1/4 inch with a two-lobed wing along either side and two spines at one end, one of which is especially sharp. The fruit usually mature in spring and summer.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
1 to 10 light or dark green stems slighty to very hairy with purple spots