Mulberry Weed Fatoua villosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Urtica villosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- FAT-oo-uh vil-OH-suh
- Description
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Mulberryweed, in the Moraceae family, is an erect, branched summer annual, resembling a mulberry seedling, except stems and leaves are hairy (stems of mulberry saplings are not hairy). Leaves are alternate, and roughly triangular in outline with toothed margins. Flowers are in feathery clusters in the leaf axils. Flower clusters are purple when young, fading to dark brown with age. Plants flower from late spring through early fall, then die after frost. Seeds are forcefully expelled at least 4 feet. Seedlings may flower and fruit within 12 days of reaching the 2-leaf growth stage. Seeds germinate from early spring through late fall, resulting in many generations per year. Consequently, although well managed by certain preemergence herbicides, populations may continue to build in the absence of aggressive sanitation programs. Herbicide efficacy rankings for this species are based on limited experimental data.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fatoua
- Species:
- villosa
- Family:
- Moraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan, Australia, Eastern Asia
- Distribution:
- Southeastern United States from Maryland to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma, north to the Ohio River Valley. Sporadic populations reported in California, Utah, and Washington.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a three-anged achene with explosively expeed seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Feathery clusters of pistillate and staminate flowers in the same cymes, with cymes subtended by a thin bract.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Fatoua villosa has papery triangular to heart-shaped leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Erect hairy stems that can secrete a milky sap when cut.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Weedy
