Description

Florida betony (Stachys floridana) is a hard-to-control perennial weed that emerges in the fall and becomes a problem in late winter and spring. It is easily recognized by the very characteristic white tuber that resembles a rattlesnake rattle. This weed also has square stems and produces white to pink flowers in the spring. It is found in the southern United States west to Texas and north to Virginia.

Cultural Control

Perennial broadleaf turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.

Species Data

• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • perennial weed
• GROWTH HABIT
  • upright
    Figure 1, Figure 2
• LEAFLET NUMBER
  • one
    Figure 3
• LEAF MARGIN
  • serrated/toothed
    Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8
• LEAF HAIRS
  • none
• LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
  • heart/kidney/spade
• LEAF WIDTH
  • 1/2 - 1 inch
• LEAF VENATION
  • palmate
• LEAF ARRANGEMENT
  • opposite
• ROOT TYPE
  • fibrous; very distinctive white rattlesnake tubers
    Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12
• FLOWER COLOR
  • white to pink