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Plant weed ID? #752481
Asked May 27, 2021, 10:22 AM EDT
I have a probable unusual weed I pulled from my flower garden and am curious what it is. It is about 2' tall, pretty solid single stem with skinny long leave like a horsetail plant. Not a deep taproot. I can submit a photo if necessary.
Otsego County Michigan
Expert Response
Dear Loretta,
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YOUR QUESTION #0022412:
Plant weed ID?
I have a probable unusual weed I pulled from my flower garden and am curious what it is. It is about 2' tall, pretty solid single stem with skinny long leave like a horsetail plant. Not a deep taproot. I can submit a photo if necessary.
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Yes, please take a couple clear pictures and attach here
Thank you
Hello Loretta Anne
This appears to be marestail.. Compare your un-wilted plants with this- https://ipcm.wisc.edu/download/weeds/Horseweed-final2017.pdf
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/field-crops/horseweed/
Control options for homeowners are hoeing or digging out young rosettes, and preventing seed formation by frequent mowing or cutting and bagging flower heads, then disposing in trash. Pre emergent herbicide may give some control. Keeping bare soil mulched or planted also helps. This earlier answer is from MSU Weed specialist, Erin Hill:
“This plant, called horseweed or marestail (Erigeron canadensis, formerly Conyza canadensis)… is a native, winter annual species found throughout Michigan. As a winter annual it often germinates in the fall, overwinters vegetatively in the rosette form you are seeing here, and then produces upright growth with flowers and seed in the spring. Seed of this plant is spread by the wind, very similar to dandelions. After producing seed the plant then dies. Some biotypes behave as summer annuals...meaning you can see it pretty much any time of year. Most people consider this plant to be a weed.
Other 'fun' fact, this is Michigan's most widespread glyphosate-resistant weed species...meaning in most cases glyphosate (Roundup) is ineffective.
For more information you can check out-“ https://www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/marestail-horseweed
Glad to help. Enjoy the weekend!
