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Is this plant a weed?

Common Burdock, Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh.

Found in:

  • Lawns (occasionally) and landscape beds

Characteristics:

  • Biennial plant that produces a basal rosette of large leaves the first year
  • Underside of leaves have many tiny hairs
  • Purple to lavender flowers are produced at the end of a 3-6’ stalk during the second year
  • Flowers are surrounded by numerous hooked bracts that later form burs that attach easily to clothing and animals
  • Blooms July to Sept.
  • Large, fleshy taproot

Significance:

Plants that look similar:

More information and control options for Common Burdock...

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