Matchweed

Biological Name:

Matchweed – Phyla nodiflora

Natural Habitat:

The natural habitat of Matchweed is likely moist, shaded areas, such as forests and meadows, in temperate regions.

Description:

Matchweed is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Amaranthaceae family which also includes plants such as pigweed and spinach. Matchweed is an annual or perennial plant that produces small green or brown flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas matchweed is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Matchweed?
A: Matchweed is a mat-forming broadleaf weed with hairy, lateral stems that are freely branched and rooting at the nodes. Its leaves grow opposite and feature small teeth at the outer tip. Blooming from May through October, Matchweed features flowers that are rose-purple or white in color.
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Q: How do I get rid of old world diamond flower?
A: Herbicide Use Postemergence control with repeat applications of mixtures of 2,4-D, carfentrazone, dicamba, MCPP, MCPA and/or sulfentrazone. Other postemergence options include triclopyr alone or combined with 2,4-D. Check the herbicide label for specific application rates and turfgrass tolerance before use.
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Q: What kills Matchweed?
A: Products labeled to treat Matchweed.SpeedZone Broadleaf Herbicide for Turf – Gallon.SpeedZone Southern Herbicide.SpeedZone Herbicide 2.5 Gallon.EndRun Herbicide with Trimec.Confront Herbicide.SpeedZone Lawn Weed Killer Concentrate.Ferti-lome Weed Free Zone.
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Q: What kills fire grass?
A: Fireweed is a cool season weed. Once the hot, dry summer hits, Fireweed will cease to be an issue. In the meantime, a selective herbicide application is effective against plants that have already germinated, though it won’t keep more plants from germinating. The best course of action is to mow.
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Q: How do you control fireweed?
A: Chemical control Herbicides are most effective in combination with healthy, competitive pastures. The best time to treat fireweed with herbicide is late autumn. This controls the peak numbers of seedlings and young plants. By late winter herbicide treatments are much less effective.
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Q: How does baking soda get rid of crabgrass?
A: Wet the patch of crabgrass in your lawn.Pour a fair amount of baking soda on the weed, covering the surrounding and the leaves.Uproot the dead crabgrass from the lawn. You can use a weed remover or simply a shovel.Reseed your lawn.
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Q: What kills crabgrass permanently?
A: If applied very carefully, a broad-spectrum herbicide such as glyphosate (RoundUp) will kill crabgrass. Take care not to allow the spray to drift, as this chemical will also kill desirable turf grasses.
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Q: Can you burn fireweed?
A: Remove flower heads and seeds prior to discarding the plants, bag them and allow to rot down before burying or burning in an enclosed incinerator.
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Q: Is Matchweed native to Florida?
A: Native Florida Wildflowers: Matchweed/Fog Fruit – Phyla nodiflora.
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Q: Is Florida Tasselflower invasive?
A: Currently, E. fosbergii is listed as invasive in Mexico, Central America, West Indies, and on several islands in the Pacific Ocean (see Distribution Table for details).
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Q: Do bougainvillea’s grow in Florida?
A: There is nothing more spectacular in the fall and winter in Florida as the bougainvilleas as they begin to reach their peak color. Even though bougainvilleas can bloom year round in Florida, winter is their prime time.
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Q: Is yellow Elder native to Florida?
A: ORIGIN: Native to Caribbean and possibly Florida’s southernmost tip. CHARACTERISTICS: This fast-growing tropical shrub must be pruned often to become a small tree, reaching 15 feet.
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Q: Is Mimosa native to Florida?
A: Powderpuff mimosa, also known as sunshine mimosa, is a native, low-growing Florida groundcover that is increasingly being used in home and commercial settings. Known scientifically as Mimosa strigillosa, it also attracts butterflies and serves as a host plant for butterfly larvae.
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Q: Are white Beggarticks native to Florida?
A: Common beggarticks or spanish needle (Bidens alba) is a native Florida landscape weed. This species is indigenous to Central and South America and was introduced to North America. Their delicate, white flowers make them a favorite among pollinators and their leaves are used to brew tea in some cultures.
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Q: How do you kill Florida pusley?
A: Herbicide Use Although small infestations of Florida pusley can be physically removed, larger infestations will likely require post-emergence herbicide treatment. For optimum control, make your herbicide application when Florida pusley is actively growing and in the seedling to flower stage of growth.
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Q: Is Florida pusley the same as purslane?
A: Purslane derives from the Latin portulacca and the old French pourcelaine. It sometimes is confused with a different common weed called Florida pusley (Richardia scabra). In fact, purslane is often called pusley and pussly, in addition to kitchen purslane, garden purslane, and fatweed.
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Q: Does 2,4-D kill Florida pusley?
A: For weed problems that are already established, there are post-emergent herbicides available. In bahia, bermuda, and zoysia, products containing 2,4-D (or mixtures, such as 2,4-D and dicamba) can work fairly well. These products may require two applications to adequately control pusley.
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Q: Does vinegar kill goutweed?
A: You can’t really compost it either, because when you spread that compost through your garden beds you’ll be greeted next spring by Goutweed in new places. It’s the plant that just refuses to die. Vinegar does not work to eradicate the invasive Bishop’s Weed. The only thing that may kill it is something like RoundUp.
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Q: What will choke out goutweed?
A: Begin by mowing or weed-whacking your goutweed into submission, cutting it as short as possible. Cover the area with cardboard, again being careful to expand several feet past the goutweed, and top with a thick layer of mulch – bark nuggets, shredded leaves, etc. Wait. Smothering can take a long time – up to two years.
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Q: How do you get rid of Capeweed but not grass?
A: Capeweed control Small infestations can be physically removed or treated with Vigilant II by applying to 50% of the leaves of the plant. For more extensive infestations, use Grazon Extra as a foliar spray at 1.5 mL/1 L of water.
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Q: Is there a natural way to get rid of nutsedge?
A: The best way to start to eliminate Nutsedge organically is to eliminate the conditions that are causing it to thrive, which are moist and compacted soil. It’s possible that you might need to physically put drain pipes in your lawn to help with congested water.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.