Identifying common weeds with purple flowers can be a difficult task. Many plants have similar characteristics, making it hard to distinguish one from another.
Differentiating between the various types of weed is important, as some may require more aggressive control measures than others. Knowing which type of weed you are dealing with is essential in order to effectively manage and eradicate them from your garden or lawn.
This guide will help you identify common weeds that have purple flowers, along with tips on how to get rid of them safely and effectively. With this information, you’ll be able to keep your yard looking its best!
Creeping Charlie
Scientific Name: Glechoma hederacea
Other Popular Names: creeping jenny, ground ivy
Plant Height: Up to 6-inches
Identification: When trying to identify creeping charlie, it is important to look for certain key characteristics. The plant typically has small, blue-violet flowers and round leaves that are attached directly to the stem. The leaves have a scalloped or toothed edge and are slightly hairy. If you see a plant that matches this description, it is likely creeping charlie. To be sure, you can also look for other identifying features. For example, the plant often produces stolons or aboveground stems that root at the nodes. These stolons can help the plant spread rapidly and become invasive. Creeping charlie can also be identified by its strong minty smell. If you suspect you have found creeping charlie, take a closer look and smell the leaves to confirm your identification.
Purple Dead Nettle
Scientific Name: Lamium purpureum
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 1-foot
Identification: The Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum) is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to Europe and Asia but has been introduced to North America and other parts of the world. The Purple Dead Nettle is a perennial plant that typically grows to about 10-30 cm (4-12 in) tall. It has square-shaped stems and opposite, lance-shaped leaves that are 2-5 cm (0.8-2 in) long and 1-3 cm (0.4-1.2 in) wide. The flowers are borne in clusters at the leaf axils and are pink or purple in color. The Purple Dead Nettle blooms from May to October.
The Purple Dead Nettle gets its common name from its resemblance to the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). However, it does not have stinging hairs as the stinging nettle does. The Purple Dead Nettle is sometimes confused with other members of the Lamium genus, such as the henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum).
Heal-all Plant
Scientific Name: Prunella vulgaris
Other Popular Names: self-heal, heart-of-the-earth
Plant Height: Up to 24-inches
Identification: The Heal-all plant is a weed that can be identified by its purple flowers. This weed is commonly found in gardens and lawns. It is a member of the aster family and is native to Europe. The Heal-all plant has been introduced to North America and is now found throughout the United States and Canada. This weed can grow up to 2 feet tall and has a spread of up to 4 feet. The leaves of this weed are lance-shaped and are arranged in pairs along the stem. The flowers of this weed are borne in clusters at the ends of the stems. Each flower is about 1 inch wide and has 5 petals that are arranged in a star-like shape. The flowers of this weed are usually blue, but they can also be white or pink. The Heal-all plant blooms from May to September.
Henbit
Scientific Name: Lamium amplexicaule
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 18-inches
Identification: Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a common weed that can be found in many lawns and gardens. It is a member of the mint family and has square stems with opposite leaves. The leaves are often purple in color, which can help to identify it. The flowers are small and pink or purple, and they bloom in the springtime. Henbit can spread rapidly through seed production, and it can also spread through vegetative means. It is important to control henbit because it can compete with desirable plants for water and nutrients. Additionally, henbit can be a host for several plant diseases.
Spotted Knapweed
Scientific Name: Centaurea stoebe
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 3 feet
Identification: Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) is a common weed that is easily identified by its purple flowers. This plant is native to Europe and Asia but has been introduced to North America, where it can be found in many states. Spotted knapweed is a problem weed because it invades disturbed areas, such as roadsides and fields. This plant outcompetes native vegetation and decreases biodiversity. Spotted knapweed also contains compounds that are toxic to livestock. Control of this weed is important to prevent its spread and negative impacts on the environment.
Forget-Me-Nots
Scientific Name: Myosotis sylvatica
Other Popular Names: woodland forget-me-not
Plant Height: Up to 8-inches
Identification: The common weed Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis scorpioides) is easily identified by its small, bright blue flowers. This annual plant typically blooms in late spring or early summer. They prefer damp, shady areas and can be found growing in gardens, along roadsides, and in other disturbed areas.
Forget-Me-Nots are not particularly difficult to control. Hand-pulling is often effective for small infestations. Larger infestations can be controlled with herbicides, but care must be taken to avoid harming nearby desirable plants.
Black Nightshade
Scientific Name: Solanum nigrum
Other Popular Names: poisonous nightshade, garden nightshade
Plant Height: Up to 4 feet
Identification: The black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is a species in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. This flowering plant is native to Europe, but can now be found in many parts of the world, including North America. The black nightshade is an annual herb with small, blackberries and flowers. It grows to a height of 30-100 cm (12-39 inches).
Spear Thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium vulgare
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 5 feet
Identification: Identifying a spear Thistle plant can be easier than it sounds. This biennial plant is easily recognizable, as its foliage is composed of long spines and it produces a voluminous purple flower head. It grows tall, usually reaching heights of up to 5 feet, and typically appears in dry or wet meadows, fields, grassy banks, and roadside verges. Although this weed-like plant is mostly found in Europe, Northern Asia, and North America, spear Thistle has been found worldwide.
Sweet Violet
Scientific Name: Viola odorata
Other Popular Names: English violet, wood violet, garden violet
Plant Height: Up to 6-inches
Identification: There are many ways to identify a sweet violet. One way is to look for its purple flowers. Sweet violets typically have five petals and are about one inch in diameter. They usually bloom in the spring or early summer. Another way to identify a sweet violet is by its leaves. They are heart-shaped and have a scalloped edge. The leaves are also typically green but may have a purple tint.
Violet Woodsorrel
Scientific Name: Oxalis violacea
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 8-inches
Identification: Violet Woodsorrel (Oxalis violacea) is a perennial wildflower that is native to North America. It is a member of the wood-sorrel family (Oxalidaceae). The plant gets its common name from its violet flowers, which bloom from April to June. The leaves of the plant are basal, meaning they grow from the root system, and are trifoliate, meaning they have three leaflets. The leaflets are ovate-shaped and have smooth margins. The petioles, or leaf stems, are red in color. Violet Woodsorrel can be found growing in woods, fields, and gardens.
Henbit Deadnettle
Scientific Name: Lamium amplexicaule
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 18-inches
Identification: Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) is a common winter annual weed in the mint family that can be found throughout the United States. It is often confused with its close relative, Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), but Henbit Deadnettle can be distinguished by its larger leaves and flowers, as well as its slightly different growth habit. Henbit Deadnettle gets its name from the fact that it is often one of the first weeds to appear in the spring, around the time when hens begin to lay eggs. It is a fast-growing plant that can reach up to 16 inches in height. The leaves are triangular in shape and have scalloped edges. They are dark green on top and lighter green on the bottom, with hairy surfaces. The flowers are small and pale purple, growing in clusters at the leaf axils.
Canada Thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium arvense
Other Popular Names: creeping thistle
Plant Height: Up to 4 feet
Identification: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced into North America in the early 1600s and has since become one of the most problematic weeds in the United States and Canada. Canada thistle can be found in all 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. This weed grows up to 1.5 m tall and has a deep taproot system that can reach up to 3 m in depth. The stem is hollow and covered with spines. The leaves are alternate, oblong to lanceolate in shape, and have serrated margins. The upper surface of the leaves is green, while the lower surface is white or pale green.
The flowers are borne in clusters at the tips of the stems. Each flower is about 2-3 cm wide and has 5 purple petals. The flowers bloom from June to September. After blooming, the flowers are followed by round, spiny fruits (known as achenes). These achenes are brown or black in color and have barbed bristles that help them attach to animals or clothing for dispersal.
Musk Thistle
Scientific Name: Carduus nutans
Other Popular Names: nodding thistle, cardoon
Plant Height: Up to 8 feet
Identification: Musk thistle typically grows to be 1-3 m tall, with a stout, upright stem that is covered in spiny, prickly hairs. The leaves are large and lobed, with the lower leaves being up to 60 cm long. The flowers are small and purple, clustered together at the top of the plant. Each flower head is surrounded by sharp, spiny bracts. Musk thistle can be identified by its unique combination of features: its tall stature, prickly hairs, large lobed leaves, and small purple flowers clustered together at the top of the plant.
Dove’s-Foot Crane’s-Bill
Scientific Name: Geranium molle
Other Popular Names: none
Plant Height: Up to 12-inches
Identification: To identify the Dove’s-Foot Crane’s-Bill, look for a plant with purple flowers and leaves that resemble a dove’s foot. The plant is an annual herb and grows to a height of 30-60 cm. The leaves are opposite, oblong-lanceolate, and have serrated margins. The flowers have 5 petals that are fused at the base and 10 stamens that are unequal in length. The fruit is a schizocarp that consists of 2-5 mericarps (a dry fruit that splits open at maturity).
Purpletop Verbena
Scientific Name: Glandularia pulchella
Other Popular Names: rose verbena, rose vervain
Plant Height: Up to 4 feet
Identification: Purpletop verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is a tall, slender plant that can grow up to four feet in height. The leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, and the flowers are small and lavender in color. This plant is native to South America, but it has become naturalized in many parts of the United States. Purpletop verbena can be found in open areas such as fields and roadsides. It is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens.
Selfheal
Scientific Name: Prunella vulgaris
Other Popular Names: healall, heart-of-the-earth
Plant Height: Up to 12-inches
Identification: Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) is a perennial herb in the mint family that is native to Europe and Asia. It is also known as a heal-all and self-heal. The plant has a square stem and produces small, purple flowers. The leaves are lance-shaped and have toothed edges. To identify self-heal, look for a plant with a square stem and small, purple flowers. The leaves will be lance-shaped with toothed edges. You can find selfheal growing in fields, meadows, and woods.
Now that you know about these common weeds with purple flowers, it’s time to take action and get rid of them. Here are some tips on how to do this safely and effectively:
• Removing weeds by hand is a great way to avoid the use of chemical herbicides, which can harm other plants in your garden or lawn. Wear gloves while you pull up the weeds, so that they don’t spread their seeds.
• Mow your lawn regularly to keep weeds in check. A high-quality mower with sharp blades is essential for the job.
• Mulch can be used to deter weed growth, as it prevents sunlight and water from reaching the soil. Applying a thick layer of mulch over a large area can be an effective way to control weeds.
• Herbicides can help you get rid of stubborn weeds that won’t go away with manual removal or mowing. Make sure to read the label and apply it carefully, as herbicides can damage other plants in your garden or lawn.
By following these tips, you can get rid of these common weeds with purple flowers and create a healthy, weed-free environment for your garden or lawn.
