Clint Perkins

Lawn burweed (Soliva pterosperma), more commonly called sticker weed, is best described as a low-growing, freely branched winter annual having leaves that are twice divided into narrow segments or lobes similar to the appearance of carrot leaves, but much smaller.

Lawn burweed is a winter annual member of the Aster family. The weed germinates throughout thin turf in the fall months as temperatures cool. It remains small or inconspicuous during the cold winter months. However, as temperatures warm in the early spring, lawn burweed initiates a period of rapid growth and begins to form spine-tipped burs in the leaf axil. It is the fruit or seed that produces the painful bur.

Here are some key identification characteristics of lawn burweed: 1) opposite, sparsely hairy leaves that are divided into numerous segments 2) small, inconspicuous flowers 3) spine-tipped burs that are found in the leaf axil (junction of leaf and stem).  The real identifier is once the plant reaches a reproductive stage the small fruit clusters and small rosette buttons begin to form down in the leaf axils. At the tip of each seed, within the cluster, is a tiny spine that eventually dries at maturity. What’s left causes you pain as they stick into tender flesh of bare feet, knees, hands, or whatever parts of the body that may come in contact with them.

If you had lawn burweed in your lawn last summer and did not apply a pre-emergent herbicide earlier this fall, then you most likely will have them again and will have to endure their painful spines again this summer.

Once the fruiting clusters have formed and produced the tiny seeds and spines, killing the plants will only eliminate the weeds. The tiny spines and seed will remain to inflict pain for another summer.  There are several good post-emergent herbicide choices (Atrazine, 2,4-D, Dicamba, Metsulfuron Methyl, Chlorsulfuron, and etc.) that will control this weed along with most other winter annual weed species, but timing is critical.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Smith County Extension Office located at 1517 W. Front Street in Tyler or call 903-590-2980.