Whorled Chickweed Mollugo verticillata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Glinus oppositifolius var. oppositifolius
- Phonetic Spelling
- mol-LOO-go ver-ti-si-LAH-tuh
- Description
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Carpetweed is a prostrate, flowering, summer annual weed that spreads rapidly to create a dense mat of foliage resembling a carpet. It can be found growing in sunny disturbed areas including tilled gardens, newly planted lawns, and along roadsides. It is typically found in dry and sandy soils, but can also be found in moist soil. It will germinate in late spring in warm soil, spreading rapidly. Small, 1/4 inch flowers appear in mid-summer and continue through the early fall.
Carpetweed needs full sun, moist to dry conditions, and sandy soil. It does tolerate partial shade and other soil types. Open disturbed sites are preferred because it is not competitive with other vegetation and does not do well when shaded by taller plants.
It spreads from a sparsely branched central taproot, creating a 5 inch high, often circular, mat. This plant spreads by reseeding itself, and often forms colonies. As it spreads, it can quickly climb over nearby plants and obstacles.
It is easy to remove this weed by either pulling or hoeing. It is important to remove it before it blooms in order to prevent the spread of unwanted seed.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. This weed spreads quickly.
- 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:
- Mollugo
- Species:
- verticillata
- Family:
- Molluginaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Mollugo verticillate can be used as a poultice.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa, Australia, India, Southeast Asia.
- Distribution:
- Eastern and western North America - south from Quebec and British Columbia.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees are attracted to the blooms. Nectar and pollen of the flowers attract Halictid bees and various flies. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Leaves have low edibility.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Egg-shaped three-valved capsules containing up to 35 tiny seeds. Small seeds are reddish brown, shiny, and reniform. There are small ridges along the sides of the seeds, but they are hard to see without a magnifying glass.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Sepals are green on the bottom and white to greenish-white on the upper surface. They may have pale vertical green lines. From the axils of the leaves, there are small whorls or clusters of 2 to 5 flowers. Each flower is about ΒΌ inch across, consisting of 5 petal-like sepals, no petals. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer through the fall, and lasts about 2 months. There is no noticeable floral scent.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Three to eight long narrow leaves form at each node. The dull green leaves are 1.5 inches long and .5 inches wide. There are whorls of 3-8 leaves at intervals along the stems. They are linear or linear-oblanceolate, smooth along their margins, and hairless.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth stems branch form at nodes. The stems are either round or angular, occasionally forming side stems.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Small Mammals
- Problems:
- Weedy
