Mulberry Weed (Fatoua villosa), is a common weed often found in ornamental pots in green houses, nurseries and shady landscapes. It is extremely happy in moist landscape beds where it can receive good irrigation and fertilizer. It is generally a summer annual but may carry over from season to season if winter temperatures are mild. Mulberry weed was originally from Eastern Asia and has been seen in the south (Louisiana) since the 1950s (Bryson and DeFelice 2009).

Mulberry weed has naturalized throughout much of the eastern United States and is found from Texas to Florida and north to Michigan and Delaware. Mulberry weed occurs from spring to fall in Florida, primarily growing in moist, shaded areas. Plants flower from early spring through late fall and then die after the first freeze. Hand pulling provides good control, especially if pulled before seeds are produced. Remember, since it is an annual, it has only one way to reproduce – by seed. Two inches of pine bark mulch will help keep weeds down in landscape beds as the seeds need light to germinate.

For more complete information, please read the University of Florida publication titled: “Biology and Management of Mulberry Weed (Fatoua villosa) in Ornamental Crop Production” by Chris Marble and Shawn Steed. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep517

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