Knowledgebase
Ugly, aggressive lawn weed. #379564
Asked December 11, 2016, 7:52 PM EST
Milam County Texas
Expert Response
I reached out to one of our Extension Specialists - Dr. Barron Rector - who provided the following identification and species information: This plant has been identified to the best
of my knowledge and ability as Sida rhombifolia L. in the Malvaceae or
Mallow Family. This plant is an introduced, evergreen annual or biennial that
is commonly named “arrowleaf sida” or “axocatzin”. It is a native of Brazil and
now occurs throughout South America and much of the tropics. It is a problem
weed in Brazos County, the Post Oak Savannah and the Coastal Prairies and
Marshes vegetation area. Depending on the weather, it can be found flowering on
any day of the year. It will grow as an understory or partial shade of oak
trees and Eastern red cedar or even in the open areas of pastures and
especially lawns. Since it acts like a perennial, mowing does not generally
control or kill this species. Currently, we do not have a chemical control
recommendation for this species. But, during the rainy season, it can be
successfully hand pulled and eliminated temporarily, but as a prolific seed
producer from those light yellow to orangish-yellow flowers, it comes back year
after year in the same general locations. This year arrowleaf sida was found
growing to 42 inches in height in unmowed areas. No known native birds, insects
or mammals are known to use this plant.