Doveweed is a grassy weed that looks very similar to turfgrass but has flowers that range from blue to purple and wide leaves with a waxy appearance.
Identifying doveweed is the first step towards removing it and preserving the health of your lawn. If you’re not careful, this weed can take over your lawn and choke out your grass, so it’s vital to get rid of it and keep it from returning. Here’s more on identifying doveweed:
What Is Doveweed?
Doveweed is an aggressive, invasive grassy weed that grows low to the ground in suburban lawns. It is originally native to the tropical and subtropical portions of Asia but has been naturalized in the southeastern part of the United States.
This weed is an annual, which means that it dies out and then comes back in a yearly cycle. Specifically, doveweed grows during the summertime, so you need to keep a close eye out when the temperature starts to rise.
Note: Doveweed shouldn’t be confused with dove weed. The former is the focus of this article, and is Murdannia nudiflora, whereas dove weed is Croton setiger.
How to Identify Doveweed
As its title as a grassy weed implies, doveweed is similar to lawn grass. In particular, it’s very easy to mistake it for St. Augustinegrass, which is a problem since doveweed is very fond of growing in St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia lawns.
Thankfully, there are ways to tell doveweed apart from your grass. Your best indicator is doveweed’s small purple flowers. You’ll be able to see them if you look closely.
You can also identify doveweed by smell. Doveweed smells unpleasantly sweet and has been described as similar to bubblegum.
If you think you have doveweed, look carefully for the flowers and try to sniff out the distinctive sweet scent. If you can’t say for certain, a professional will be able to tell you if you have doveweed and how bad the problem is.
To identify other weeds, read this article: “Read Your Weeds: Identify Them to Learn About Your Lawn’s Health.”
FAQ About Doveweed
How does doveweed spread?
Doveweed spreads mostly by seed, though it can also spread through aboveground stolons. These stolons can creep across your yard and establish new doveweed plants. These stolons are why you should never mow doveweed; mowing doesn’t kill the stolons, so your mower will fling the stolons all across the lawn and spread the doveweed even further.
Is doveweed toxic?
Yes, all parts of the doveweed plant are toxic to animals. However, the plant is not harmful to humans, and has actually been used medicinally in the past. Doveweed also causes contact dermatitis, or a bad rash, in dogs that come into contact with it.
Does doveweed go by any other names?
In addition to its scientific name, Murdannia nudiflora, doveweed has also been called the naked stem dewflower.
How do you get rid of doveweed?
The best way to get rid of a doveweed infestation is with a post-emergent herbicide. Always follow the instructions when applying herbicide and wear protective gear, including eye and breathing protection.
You can use either non-selective herbicides or selective herbicides to control doveweed. To learn more about doveweed control, read our article: “How to Get Rid of Doveweed in Your Lawn.”
Hire a Lawn Care Pro
Doveweed is easy to identify so long as you know what to look for. Keep a careful eye out for it so that you can remove it as soon as it pops up. If you’re looking for lawn help, contact a lawn care pro near you who can treat your turf for you and remove its weeds.
Main Photo Credit: Dinesh Valke / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
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