Two prolific weeds in my DC yard

9 years ago

I would like to know what these two weeds are, which grow all around our house and in my mostly shady shrub and perennial garden.

Weed no. 1 can get 2-3 feet tall, has shallow roots (is therefore thankfully easy to pull) and a fleshy stem.

Weed no. 1:
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Weed no. 1's roots:
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Weed no. 1 closeup:
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Weed no. 2 gets about a foot tall, has tiny inconspicuous yellow flowers, and is also easy to pull. It also always seems to get eaten by something, because the leaves are punctured by little holes.

Weed no. 2 (to the right of a deciduous azalea):
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Weed no. 2 closeup and roots:
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Weed no. 2's flowers:
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I'd also like to know when these go to seed.

Thanks in advance!

Comments (5)

flying_c
9 years ago
Number 2 is three-seeded mercury, acalypha rhomboidea.

Here is a link that might be useful: Acalypha rhomboidea
Iris GW
9 years ago
First one looks like Erechtites hieracifolia; agreed that second one is an Acalypha. Both pretty common weeds.
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katescottagegarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you both for your replies. The ID of weed no. 2 seems correct to me, but weed no. 1 is something else. I realize that I have Erechtites hieracifolia as well though, just not as much of it.
Carrie B
9 years ago
In the first photo, you've got several plants, including Erechtites hieracifolia (center right). The second and third photos, I believe, are Erechtites.
katescottagegarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks again. After looking at a lot of pictures, I think you guys are probably right about weed no. 1 as well - I am just a bit confused because most of the pictures I find online of Erechtites hieracifolia show much more deeply serrated leaves than the plants I have and look less bushy. I have seen weeds in my yard that look like those pictures, and I have always thought they were a different plant. But then there are some pictures of Erechtites that do look like mine, such as here: http://www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-a/burnweed-identification/
So I figure it's all the same plant. Thanks a lot!