11 Most Common Weeds in Florida
- Dandelions
- Crabgrass
- Caterpillar Grass
- Broadleaf Plantain
- Florida Beggarweed
- Mouse-ear Chickweed
- Florida Pusley
- Torpedograss
- Goosegrass
- Garden Spurge
- Yellow Woodsorrel
1. Dandelions
The most common weed in Florida is the dandelion. This should not come as a surprise to anyone, as dandelions are the most commonly recognizable weed in America. These yellow flowers are a nuisance, but they have medicinal properties.
If you are amenable to it, check out the many uses of dandelions in diets. Teas, salads, and even soups can be made with the leaves of this plant. So, it may be a weed, but it’s also good for you.
2. Crabgrass
Crabgrass is another common lawn weed in Florida. It's also the bane of many lawn care specialists, and that’s no joke. This annoyingly bushy grass tends to crop up in the worst places and mar the look of a seamless lawn. As a result, crabgrass is common in most developments.
Like dandelions, crabgrass is famous for being stubborn and pervasive as a weed. But, unlike dandelions, this grass does little aside from messing up a lawn’s appearance.
3. Caterpillar Grass
Another common weed in Florida lawns is Caterpillar grass. Caterpillar grass is also known as dallisgrass and is a clumpy grass-like weed that tends to have hairs on the tips of the blades. If you have ever seen grass that almost looks yellowish at the tips of it, you probably saw this pest. It’s most common in areas of lawns that have poor drainage.
4. Broadleaf Plantain
Broadleaf plantain is also one of the most common weeds in Florida. Not to be confused with the fruit tree, broadleaf plantains are herbs that are small, flat-leafed, and easy to see in wetter parts of the area. These plantains grow long spikes of small flowers in the center of the plant.
Broadleaf plantains are a weed you might want to keep around. They’re edible plants since the leaves can be eaten raw. They’re highly nutritious, to the point that supplements are now being made from them.
5. Florida Beggarweed
Another one of the most common weeds in Florida is Beggarweed. It is so widespread around the state it is even colloquially called by name. Beggarweed is a large creeping plant that grows purple flowers that later turn into sticky fruit that can get caught on clothes.
It’s recognizable by both the fruits it bears and the fact that it can grow up to two feet in height. Unfortunately, this is a particularly difficult weed to remove from yards, so it may be better to call a professional if you see it creeping into your yard.
6. Mouse-ear Chickweed
Chickweed is another edible weed that is noted by its small white flowers, slightly bushy appearance, and the fuzzy leaves that the plant is characterized by. Growing up to 18 inches tall, this is one herb you don’t want to see in your garden.
The problem with chickweed isn’t the fact that it’s edible. It’s an invasive species. In fact, it’s one of the most widespread invasive species in the world. It also happens to be notoriously hard to remove, so if you see it once, you may need to get rid of it time and time again.
7. Florida Pusley
Nicknamed “Florida Snow,” this weed will quickly cover lawns during football turf season. As you can guess, this Florida weed has small white flowers. People love the star-shaped, tubular flowers, but they don’t love how easy it is to end up having to do a full lawn overhaul due to these weeds.
Pusley is a pretty plant that is a major headache for homeowners. This plant has to be pulled out by hand, and it’s fairly resistant to herbicides. Needless to say, it’s not fun to spot this common Florida weed in the neighborhood because that often means it’ll be in your yard too.
8. Torpedograss
Torpedograss is also one of the most notorious nuisance grasses in Florida. This invasive species is particularly troublesome due to its aggressive growth habit and ability to spread rapidly through both seeds and an extensive rhizome system. Torpedograss can quickly overtake lawns, gardens, and natural habitats, out-competing native plants and creating dense, monocultural stands that are difficult to control.
Torpedograss thrives in a variety of conditions, including both wet and dry soils, making it a pervasive problem in both residential and natural landscapes. Managing torpedograss often requires a combination of mechanical removal and herbicide application, but eradication can be challenging and may require ongoing efforts.
9. Goosegrass
Goosegrass could be a double for crabgrass, and in many cases, amateur gardeners tend to mistake one for the other. They are both clumpy and make it hard for people to have that perfect seamless lawn that they want to have.
This weed is a little bit less yellow and a little bit more white and grey at the tips. Goosegrass leaves are flatter than regular crabgrass and may be slightly larger in size. Either way, you want to get this weed off your lawn. It’s not a good look.
10. Garden Spurge
Florida has a lot of different types of spurge growing throughout the state, but Garden Spurge is the most common of them all. This weed has a long red stalk with hairy, branched stems. It doesn’t look pretty, and neither does it do anything that benefits your garden.
Spurges are fairly rough to remove, but the good news is that they aren’t all bad. It’s a medicinal herb used to treat asthma, skin ailments, and circulation problems by traditional medicine users for ages.
11. Yellow Woodsorrel
It’s a beautiful little flowering plant that many people don’t immediately recognize as a weed. You wouldn’t be wrong for thinking it’s pretty. Yellow Woodsorrel is known for having heart-shaped leaves, tiny yellow buttercup-like flowers, and for being fairly small in size.
Like other weeds on this list, Yellow Woodsorrel has medicinal and culinary uses. It’s very high in Vitamin C and has a fairly delicious taste in a salad. If used in tea, it can help cure constipation and aid in digestion. That’s the nice side of the weeds in Florida. Many of the most common Florida weeds have their own uses. So while you may have to pull them out of the ground, it’s not a total loss as far as your efforts go. It could turn into a healthy snack…Or at the very least, a cool thing to take to the farmer’s market.
Weeds in Florida FAQs
1. Are There Poisonous Weeds in Florida?
Yes, there are poisonous weeds in Florida. Some of these toxic plants pose significant risks to humans and animals if ingested or touched. Notable examples include poison ivy, which can cause severe skin irritation and allergic reactions; water hemlock, one of the most toxic plants in North America, which can be fatal if ingested; and castor bean, whose seeds contain ricin, a potent toxin.
Additionally, oleander, while often grown as an ornamental plant, contains toxic compounds that can be harmful if any part of the plant is consumed. It is important for residents and visitors to be aware of these dangerous weeds and take precautions when encountering unknown plants in the wild.
2. What is the Nuisance Grass in Florida?
In Florida, cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) is one of the most problematic nuisance grasses. This highly aggressive invasive species can spread rapidly through its extensive rhizome network and wind-dispersed seeds. Cogon grass is notorious for its ability to establish dense stands that outcompete native vegetation, leading to significant ecological damage. It thrives in a variety of environments, including roadsides, forests, and pastures, and is particularly challenging to control once established.
Its sharp leaves can cause skin irritation, and its thick mats of vegetation can pose a fire hazard due to their flammability. Managing cogon grass typically requires a combination of mechanical removal, herbicide treatments, and long-term monitoring to prevent re-infestation, making it a persistent and costly problem for land managers in Florida.