low weed w/ purple leaves

Jason – posted 08 January 2003 12:05

Can anybody please identify this weed? It is a low weed with purple leaves, white flowers, and a deep root system. I have posted a picture of this weed at http://home.eckerd.edu/~faveroje/weed.html

Thank you.

seed – posted 10 January 2003 08:23

Jason, this is called matchweed, because the flower heads are about as big as the head of a wooden matchstick. It is also called creeping Charlie, a name shared with other plants.

The scientific name is Phyla nodiflora (an older synonym is Lippia nodiflora). It is in the Verbenaceae family.

Matchweed is more resistant to herbicides than dollarweed, and multiple applications of atrazine may be required. Other herbicides that are labelled for St. Augustinegrass (which I can see you have) include Manor (only available to commercial applicators) and SpeedZone St. Augustine (which I have heard that the manufacturer is pulling back from, due to injury concerns in Floratam St. Augustinegrass). Both Manor and SpeedZone St. Augustine are more effective in matchweed control than atrazine, in my investigations.

Can I post your picture in the web site?

Thanks,Phil

Jason – posted 10 January 2003 17:41

Phil, You are more than welcome to use the photos on the web site. Thank you for your answer. I will go and find on of these chemicals you are suggesting. So far I have been simply pulling them out, but it is very difficult to get the roots as they vine their way underneath the grass and are hard to follow to the source.