flowering ground ivy

Ground ivy photo by C. Carignan, UME

Updated: November 5, 2024

Accurate plant identification and understanding the lifecycle of the plant are essential when it comes to weed management.

  • Identify common grassy, broadleaf, or woody weeds using the photos below. Click on the name of the plant to view details and management recommendations.

  • Weeds also can be identified by the season of active growth: spring, summer, and fall. 

Grassy weeds and sedges

  • annual bluegrass weed with flowers

    Annual Bluegrass

  • bamboograss

    Bamboo

  • bermudagrass closeup

    Bermudagrass

  • crabgrass

    Crabgrass

  • dallisgrass

    Dallisgrass

  • giant foxtail

    Foxtail

  • goosegrass growth habit

    Goosegrass

  • Japanese stiltgrass seedlings

    Japanese Stiltgrass

  • green kyllinga

    Kyllinga

  • mowed nimblewill

    Nimblewill

  • orchardgrass

    Orchardgrass

  • quackgrass

    Quackgrass

  • Roughstalk bluegrass. Photo: Mira Talabac, University of Maryland Extension

    Roughstalk bluegrass

  • invasive wavyleaf basketgrass

    Wavyleaf Basketgrass

  • yellow nutsedge

    Yellow Nutsedge

Broadleaf weeds

  • American burnweed

    American Burnweed

  • closeup of Asiatic dayflower

    Asiatic Dayflower

  • black medic weed

    Black Medic

  • bulbous buttercup flower

    Buttercup

  • Canada thistle invading a garden plot

    Canada Thistle

  • carpetweed

    Carpetweed

  • chicory

    Chicory

  • clover

    Clover

  • chickweed with flowers

    Common Chickweed

  • cinquefoil

    Common Cinquefoil

  • cocklebur

    Common Cocklebur

  • dandelion

    Dandelion

  • purple deadnettle weeds

    Deadnettle

  • dock in flower

    Dock

  • galinsoga

    Galinsoga

  • closeup of garlic mustard flower

    Garlic Mustard

  • giant hogweed flower

    Giant Hogweed

  • ground ivy

    Ground Ivy

  • groundsel

    Groundsel

  • hairy bittercress flowers and seed pods

    Hairy Bittercress

  • henbit foliage and flowers

    Henbit

  • horsenettle foliage

    Horsenettle

  • horseweed

    Horseweed

  • Indian mock strawberry

    Indian Mock Strawberry

  • jimsonweed

    Jimsonweed

  • knawel closeup

    Knawel

  • lambsquarter

    Lambsquarter

  • lespedeza

    Lespedeza or Japanese Clover

  • lesser celandine with yellow flowers

    Lesser Celandine

  • common mallow

    Mallow

  • mugwort foliage

    Mugwort

  • flowering mulberry weed

    Mulberryweed

  • oxalis

    Oxalis

  • pigweed

    Pigweed

  • plantain

    Plantain

  • poison hemlock leaves

    Poison Hemlock

  • pokeweed

    Pokeweed

  • knotweed details

    Prostrate Knotweed

  • prostrate spurge

    Prostrate Spurge

  • purslane

    Purslane

  • common ragweed

    Ragweed

  • red sorrel foliage

    Red Sorrel

  • shepherds purse flowers and seed pods

    Shepherd's Purse

  • Pennsylvania smartweed

    Smartweed

  • speedwell foliage

    Speedwell

  • new star of bethlehem foliage

    Star of Bethlehem

  • velvetleaf

    Velvetleaf

  • wild garlic or wild onions

    Wild Garlic or Wild Onions

  • yarrow foliage

    Yarrow

Woody and vining weeds

  • Autumn Olive

    Autumn Olive

  • bindweed

    Bindweed

  • border privet shrub with white flowers

    Privet

  • bradford pear flowers

    Bradford Pear

  • corky stems of burning bush

    Burning Bush

  • purple flowering invasive butterfly bush

    Butterfly Bush

  • wisteria flowers

    Chinese and Japanese Wisteria

  • Dodder creates mats

    Dodder

  • invasive english ivy vines climbing up a tree

    English Ivy

  • fruit of honeysuckle

    Bush Honeysuckles

  • greenbriar

    Greenbrier

  • Invasive Japanese honeysuckle with white and creamy yellow flowers

    Japanese Honeysuckle

  • Invasive Japanese barberry shrub

    Japanese Barberry

  • Japanese knotweed

    Japanese Knotweed

  • infestation of kudzu

    Kudzu

  • fruit of mile-a-minute vine

    Mile-a-Minute

  • invasive multiflora rose shrub with white flowers

    Multiflora Rose

  • invasive Norway maple leaf

    Norway Maple

  • invasive oriental bittersweet vines with orange and yellow berries

    Oriental Bittersweet

  • invasive paulownia tomentosa tree with lavender flowers

    Princess Tree

  • poison ivy plants have three leaflets attached at a common point

    Poison Ivy

  • invasive porcelainberry vines and foliage with blue berries

    Porcelainberry

  • Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus)

    Tree of Heaven

  • invasive wineberry shrub showing foliage and red berries

    Wineberry

  • winter creeper leaves

    Winter Creeper

Basic tips for weed control

  • Minimize soil disturbance. Digging and cultivating brings weed seeds to the surface. When exposed to light the seeds will germinate. 
  • Cover bare soil with groundcovers or mulch. Bare soil is an invitation for weeds to move in.
  • Do not let weeds flower and go to seed. At a minimum, cut them back or use a string trimmer.
  • Pull weeds when the soil is moist. This will make the job easier! 

Related information

Invasive Species

Tips for Lawn Weed Prevention and Management

Glyphosate (Roundup®) Information and Alternatives for Weed Management

Additional resources

University of Delaware | (PDF) Winter Weeds Identification

Still have a question? Contact us at Ask Extension.