Last Updated on March 16, 2022 by

Welcome to Weed Science Wednesday, a weekly series aimed at helping homeowners and horticulture professionals better identify and manage common landscape weeds in Florida.

This week’s weed of the week is eclipta (eclipta prostrata). Eclipta is well-adapted to Florida’s hot, humid summers. Eclipta occurs in moist, disturbed areas from spring to fall, and is often found near irrigation heads or in drain holes of containers. This weed does best in full sun.

Eclipta can be identified by their purple stems covered in short, stiff hairs and oval-shaped, dull green leaves. Eclipta can also be identified by their small, round, white ray-and-disk flower heads.

For more information on eclipta, including physical and chemical control options read our Extension publication, Biology and Management of Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata) in Ornamental Crop Production.

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