In this article, we’ve identified the different weeds common to Florida. If you have a weed problem, one of these is likely among those you’re dealing with.

Types of Florida Lawn Weeds

The state of Florida is home to a ton of weed varieties.

While some of these are common, others aren’t so common. As a gardener, you may be interested in knowing weed types that can be problematic to your lawn.

For the most part, weeds are an inevitable feature around most homes.

To eliminate these, deliberate action must be taken to make your surroundings less bushy and more appealing.

Why Weed Identification is Important

If you wonder why weed identification is necessary, there are several reasons. First off, effective control requires proper identification.

Without knowing what you’re dealing with, there’s little you can do to get results. For identification, weeds are categorized under annual and perennial types.

Regarding herbicides used for weed control, these can be categorized under pre-emergence herbicides, post-emergence herbicides, and non-selective herbicides.

With that said, our focus will be more on Florida weed identification.

As you read, you’ll notice that some of the weeds you’ve come across (which you know nothing about) are included here.

Common Florida Weeds

As mentioned earlier, Florida is home to a wide variety of weed species. Examples of these include the Carolina False Dandelion, and the Black Magic.

Others include Bull Thistle, Broadleaf Plantain, American Burnweed, Carolina Geranium, Common Chickweed, and Virginia Buttonweed.

More Florida weed species include Asiatic Hawskbeard, Annual Lespedeza, Crabgrass, White Clover, Carpetweed, Carpetgrass, and Dollarweed.

More varieties include Dandelion, Chamberbitter, Cat’s-Ear Dandelion, Goosegrass, Florida Beggerweed, and ClumpyRye.

Others like Clover Rabbitfoot, Yellow Nutsedge, Corn Speedwell, Caterpillar Grass, Dogfennel, Dichondra, and Doveweed.

These and wide more weed varieties are readily found in Florida. Let’s look at some of these to provide information on essential characteristics.

  • Carolina False Dandelion

This biennial weed is commonly found in Florida and has pale-green erect, branched flowering stems accompanied by yellow flowers at the tips.

The Carolina False Dandelion has sharply pointed leaves in addition to lobed margins.

  • Black Magic

The Black Magic weed is easily identified by its dark green appearance and leaves consisting of three distinct petioles that are long.

  • Bull Thistle

The Bull Thistle weed is common to Florida and is identified by its tall, flowering stems. What more? This weed has branches that bear wooly white hairs and turns green rosette in winter.

  • Broadleaf Plantain

Another weed species you’ll commonly find in Florida is the Broadleaf Plantain.

This perennial is leafless but grows spikes of flowers with leaf rosettes. It thrives in either dry or wet soils and produces fibrous root systems.

  • American Burnweed

This is a robust summer annual weed that flowers in late spring through fall.

The weed can be identified by its alternating spiraling, elliptic, to lance-shaped leaves. Such leaves have narrow pointed bases.

  • Carolina Geranium

The Carolina Geranium weed is known for its red or greenish-pink hairy stems.

These hairs extend to the leaves, which they cover. You’ll find the leaves of this weed having blunt-toothed margins.

  • Common Chickweed

The Common Chickweed is an edible broad-leaved weed that can become a nuisance when growing on lawns. The leaves are egg-shaped and long.

This weed bears daisy-like white flowers, which are small and elongated.

  • Virginia Buttonweed

A common feature around homes and gardens, Virginia Buttonweed, can be identified by its oppositely arranged leaves. Its green leaves have no stems and grow to about 2.5 inches long.

  • Asiatic Hawskbeard

The flowering stalks of the Asiatic Hawskbeard weed branch from the topmost part of the plant.

This weed is yet another common species that are found in Florida. The flowers appear orange-yellow to yellow and bear five small teeth at the fringes of the petals.

  • Annual Lespedeza

This summer, the annual legume weed proliferates around Florida.

It bears egg-shaped leaflets with pronounced mid veins with parallel veins. Not only is the annual Lespedeza found in Florida, but it’s also spread across other southern U.S. states.

  • Crabgrass

Crabgrass is a creeping weed that’s common in Florida gardens.

It comes in wide varieties and bears, but leaves grow up to 5 inches long at maturity. Leaves are observed to taper to a point. This weed is drought-resistant and will thrive in hot weather.

  • White Clover

White clover weed is viewed differently by different gardeners.

One thing that isn’t disputed is its ability to add or enrich the soil with nitrogen. For some other gardeners, the appearance of these weeds on lawns isn’t welcome.

  • Carpetweed

This is a weed variety that bears smooth, light-green leaves.

The leaves take a spoon shape and can be found in whorls on oon5 to 6 per node. Aside from its leaves, carpetweed sprouts tiny white flowers arranged in clusters of 2 to 5.

  • Carpetgrass

Carpetgrass is another common type of weed outside Florida.

This weed is identified by its smooth leaf blade; on the base of the blade are a few long hairs. Besides Florida, Carpetgrass is commonly found in other states like Arkansas and North Carolina,

  • Dollarweed

Also called pennywort, dollarweed is identified by its bright green and rounded leaves.

It’s a water-loving weed that will thrive with a sufficient water supply. Pennywort weed can indicate a bright green in your yard or garden.

  • Dandelion

One of many common weed problems gardeners have to include dandelion. This flowering weed is known for its fast growth rate.

It bears jagged-edged leaves that can grow as much as ten inches in length. Sometimes, dealing with this weed problem effectively will require professional help.

  • Chamberbitter

Chamberbitter is another of several common weeds in Florida.

It mostly sprouts in the warm season. This annual broadleaf weed can be identified by its thin leaves, which appear in two rows arranged oppositely on branchlets.

We could go on and on about common Florida weeds, as there are lots of varieties not included here. However, we’ll be pausing here for want of time.

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