Native Plants

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Monday - February 27, 2012

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Weed identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Weeds / Wildflower. I dream of a photo identification for weeds / wildflowers that pop up in my garden here in Austin, Texas. Maybe I don't want to pull them up. How do I know? Do you know of a book or website?

ANSWER:

As far as I know, there aren't any books or websites with pictures or identifications of weeds specifically for the Austin area, but I can guide you to a websites that cover various areas of the US. All of these have photographs and many have photographs of seedlings as well as mature plants. Many have the option of selecting characteristics (e.g., leaf shape and flower color) to narrow the list for viewing.

Websites for weed identification:

Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide for weeds in Virginia and the Southeastern United States.
Weedalogue with photos of weeds in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.
Weed Science from the University of Illinois.
Weed Identification from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Weed Gallery from the University of California Davis
Weed Science Society of America
Weed Identification and Management from the University of Wisconsin
MSU Turf Weeds from Michigan State University
Weed ID Guide from the University of Missouri
Weed Identification Resources from Iowa State University.
Weed ID from Montana Weed Control Association
Turf & Weed ID from North Carolina State University

Websites for seedling identification of wildflowers:

Wildflowers in Bloom from Texas A&M
American Meadows has a limited number of photos of wildflower seedlings
Wildseed Farms has photos of seedlings for the wildflowers it sells
Native American Seed has photos of seedlings for the wildflowers it sells

Here are books that will help identify weeds:

Weeds of the Northeast by R. H. Uva, J. C. Neal and J. M. Ditomaso. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. 1997.
Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico: A guide to identification by J. H. Everitt, R. I. Lonard and C. R. Little. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. 2007.
Weeds of the Great Plaiins by J. L. Stubbendleck, M. J. Coffin and L. M. Landholt. Lincoln, Nebraska: Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. 2003.
Weeds of the Northern U. S. and Canada: A guide for identification by F. Rover and R. Dickinson. Renton, WA: Lone Pine Publishing. 1999.
Weeds of the West by Tom D. Whitson and others. 9th ed. University of Wyoming Press. 2006.