Weed ID Sheets

Identification and control of invasive species of the Midwest. Click the columns to sort weed ID sheets by name and feature.

General Information (back side of sheets)

Common NameScientific NameFamilyHabitColorProminent feature
aspen, big toothPopulous grandidentataSalicaceae (willow family)treegreenbrown bark below, white bark above
aspen, quakingPopulous tremuloidesSalicaceae (willow family)treegreenwhite bark
autumn oliveElaeagnus umbellataElaeagnaceae (oleaster family)shrubcreamsilver underside of leaf
bindweed, fieldConvolvulus arvensisConvolvulaceae (morning-glory family)herbaceous vinewhitelarge white flower
bindweed, hedgeConvolvulus sepium Convolvulaceae (morning-glory family)herbaceous vinewhitelarge white flower
birdsfoot trefoilLotus corniculatusFabaceae (legume family)herbaceousyellowyellow flowers
bishops goutweedAegopodium podagrariaApiaceae (carrot family)herbaceouswhiteaggressive groundcover
black locustRobinia pseudoacaciaFabaceae (legume family)treewhitethorny clonal tree
boxelderAcer negundoSapindaceae (soapberry family)treegreen3 leaflets, ugly tree
bush honeysuckleLonicera spp.Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family)shrubwhite, pinkshowy flower, red berry
Canada goldenrodSolidago canadensisAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousyellowfall yellow flowers
cattailsTypha spp.Typhaceae (cattail family)herbaceousgreenlarge brown seed heads
common buckthornRhamnus catharticaRhamnaceae (buckthorn family)shrubgreendark berry
common burdockArctium minusAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousmagentasticky seed
common ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifoliaAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousgreenfern-like leaves
common reedPhragmites australisPoaceae (grass family)grassgreengrain
creeping bellflowerCampanula rapunculoidesCampanulaceae (bellflower family)herbaceouspurpleblue flowers
creeping CharlieGlechoma hederaceaLamiaceae (mint family)herbaceouspurpledistinctive smell
crown vetchCoronilla variaFabaceae (legume family)herbaceouspinksprawling with purple flowers
curly dockRumex crispusPolygonaceae (smartweed family)herbaceousgreenlarge brown seed head
dames rocketHesperis matronalisBrassicaceae (mint family)herbaceousmagentaattractive purple flowers
deadly nightshadeSolanum dulcamaraSolanaceae (nightshade family)woody vinepurpledark berry
deadnettleLamium sp.Lamiaceae (mint family)herbaceouspurpleaggressive groundcover
enchanter’s nightshadeCircaea lutetianaOnagraceae (evening primrose family)herbaceouswhitesticky seed
English ivyHedera helixAraliaceae (ginseng family)woody vinewhitedark spreading leaves
European highbush cranberryViburnum opulus subsp. opulusAdoxaceae (moschatel family)shrubwhitered berry, all winter
fig buttercupRanunculus ficariaRanunculaceae (buttercup family)herbaceousyellowyellow early bloomer
foxtail grassesSetaria spp.Poaceae (grass family)grassgreensoft stiff seed heads
garlic mustardAlliaria petiolataBrassicaceae (mint family)herbaceouswhitesmall white flowers
giant ragweedAmbrosia trifidaAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousgreentall with large leaves
gooseberriesRibes spp.Grossulariaceae (currant family)shrubyellowthorns
great celandineChelidonium majusPapaveraceae (poppy family)herbaceousyellow large yellow flower
grey dogwoodCornus racemosaCornaceae (dogwood family)shrubwhitewhite flowers, white berry
Himalayan pokeweedPhytolacca acinosaPhytolaccaceae (pokeweed family)herbaceouswhitedark berry
Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergiiBerberidaceae (barberry family)shrubyellowthorns, red berries
Japanese hedge parsleyTorilis japonicaApiaceae (carrot family)herbaceouswhitesticky seed
Japanese hopsHumulus japonicusCannabaceae (hemp family)herbaceous vinegreenaggressive vine
Japanese knotweedPolygonum cuspidatumPolygonaceae (smartweed family)herbaceouswhitelarge plant, large leaves
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensisPoaceae (grass family)grassgreenubiquitous lawn grass
lamb's quartersChenopodium albumAmaranthaceae (amaranth family)herbaceousgreenmealy texture
leafy spurgeEuphorbia esulaEuphorbiaceae (spurge family)herbaceousyellowugly greenish-yellow
lettuce, prickly and wildLactuca spp.Asteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousyellowspiny
lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria majalisAsparagaceae (asparagus family)herbaceouswhiteaggressive groundcover, white flowers
motherwortLeonurus cardiacaLamiaceae (mint family)herbaceouslavendertextured pointed leaves
mulleinVerbascum thapsusScrophulariaceae (figwort family)herbaceousyellowlarge spike of yellow flower
multiflora roseRosa multifloraRosaceae (rose family)shrubwhitered drupe
Norway mapleAcer platanoidesSapindaceae (soapberry family)treegreenwider leaf than sugar maple
orange day lilyHemerocallis fulvaAsphodelaceae (asphodel family)herbaceousorangelarge orange flowers
Oriental bittersweetCelastrus orbiculatusCelastraceae (staff-vine family)woody vinegreenred/orange berries
periwinkleVinca minorApocynaceae (dogbane family)woody vinepurpledark spreading leaves
poison hemlockConium maculatumApiaceae (carrot family)herbaceouswhitespotted stems
poison ivyToxicodendron radicansAnacardiaceae (cashew family)woody vinegreen3 leaflets, white berry
pokeweed, AmericanPhytolacca americanaPhytolaccaceae (pokeweed family)herbaceouswhitedark berry
porcelain berryAmpelopsis brevipedunculataiVitaceae (grape family)woody vinegreenpurple & blue spotted berries
prickly ashZanthoxylum americanumRutaceae (citrus family)shrubgreenthorns, paired
private, commonLigustrum vulgareOleaceae (olive family)shrubwhitedark berry
privet, borderLigustrum obtusifoliumOleaceae (olive family)shrubwhitedark berry
purple loosestrifeLythrum salicariaLythraceae (loosestrife family)herbaceousmagentalarge purple flower spikes
quack grassElytrigia repensPoaceae (grass family)grassgreenspreading roots
Queen Anne's laceDaucus carotaApiaceae (carrot family)herbaceouswhiteabundant white flowers
reed canary grassPhalaris arundinaceaPoaceae (grass family)grassgreencarpets wetlands
Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifoliaElaeagnaceae (oleaster family)shrubcreamsilver underside of leaf
Siberian elmUlmus pumilaUlmaceae (elm family)treegreentiny elm leaves
sow thistleSonchus spp.Asteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousyellowspiny
spotted knapweedCentaurea biebersteiniiAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousmagentadry site specialist
stickseedHackelia virginianaBoraginaceae (forget-me-not family)herbaceouswhitesticky seed
sumac, smoothRhus glabraAnacardiaceae (cashew family)shrubgreenred fruit clusters on top of stems
sumac, staghornRhus typhinaAnacardiaceae (cashew family)shrubgreenred fruit clusters on top of stems
teaselDipsacus spp.Dipsacaceae (teasel family)herbaceouswhite lavenderabundant roadside spikes
thistle, bullCirsium vulgareAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousmagentaspiny
thistle, CanadaCirsium arvenseAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousmagentaspiny
thistle, noddingCarduus nutans Asteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousmagentaspiny
thistle, plumelessCarduus acanthoides Asteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceousmagentaspiny
tree-of-heavenAilanthus altissimaSimaroubaceae (tree-of-heaven family)treegreenstinky when cut
virginia creeperParthenocissus quincuefoliaVitaceae (grape family)woody vinegreenfive leaflets
white mulberryMorus albaMoraceae (mulberry family)treegreendark berry
white snakerootAgeratina altissimaAsteraceae (sunflower family)herbaceouswhitelate summer white flowers
white sweet cloverMelilotus albaFabaceae (legume family)herbaceouswhitewhite spike inflorescence
wild grapeVitis ripariaVitaceae (grape family)woody vinegreenclimbs trees
wild parsnipPastinaca sativaApiaceae (carrot family)herbaceousyellowbig yellow flower
wild raspberryRubus sp.Rosaceae (rose family)shrubwhitethorns
wood avensGeum canadenseRosaceae (rose family)herbaceouswhitesticky seed
yellow archangelLamiastrum galeobdolonLamiaceae (mint family)herbaceousyellowaggressive groundcover
yellow sweet cloverMelilotus officinalis Fabaceae (legume family)herbaceousyellowyellow spike inflorescence