By Esther E. McGinnis, Horticulturist

NDSU Extension

After battling garden weeds all summer, I have a begrudging respect for them. Some of them seem to have superpowers that enable them to thrive in gardens. These weeds evolved unique traits that make them almost invincible in the garden.

I am currently battling yellow wood sorrel in one of my neglected shade garden beds. The tiny plants look rather innocent with their three heart-shaped leaflets that resemble clover and small yellow flowers. However, I know their secret to conquer the world. Yellow wood sorrel produces a banana-shaped seed pod. When ripe, the pod explodes and flings the seeds more than ten feet away, thus enabling their spread. Fortunately, the plants are easy to pull, and wood mulch can also be effective in minimizing germination.

Common mullein is frequently seen in ditches and pastures but can make its way into gardens. Many gardeners mistake it for lamb’s ear because it produces a cluster of woolly, silvery-green leaves. The weed is a biennial, which means that it has a two-year life cycle. In its second year, it will send up a five-foot flowering stalk with yellow flowers. Although the flowers are pretty, don’t let them go to seed. A single plant can produce well over 200,000 seeds. Doesn’t that sound like an attempt at world domination?

Purslane flies under the radar as a mat-forming weed in sunny gardens. The plants are recognized by the fleshy, teardrop-shaped leaves that grow on red stems. These succulent leaves give the plant the ability to tolerate drought. The weed’s superpower is its ability to regenerate from plant pieces. Many gardeners have discovered the plant’s regenerative powers while hoeing. If pieces are left in the garden, the plant will root and produce new plants. One of my friends extracts her revenge on this weed by pickling and eating it.

No list of problem garden weeds is complete without the dandelion. The lowly dandelion has two superpowers. Its regenerative powers are legendary. The dandelion produces a long, fleshy taproot similar to a carrot. When extracting the taproot from the soil, it is essential to get most of it. If a large enough portion of the taproot is left in the soil, it will regrow. Dandelion’s second superpower is its distribution properties, consisting of a cottony parachute to carry away the seeds.

Last but not least, Canada thistle strikes fear in the hearts of gardeners. This noxious weed and garden thug features a massive and aggressive root system. Over time, the root system can spread horizontally up to 15 feet or more. You don’t need to be a superhero to eradicate Canada thistle. However, you do need to be persistent. If you are trying to remove the spiny plants by hand, wear gloves and remove as much of the root as possible. Some people have been successful in using a thick, opaque tarp to deprive the plants of necessary sunlight. If all else fails, carefully spot-spraying in spring and fall with an approved herbicide is the most effective method for managing this pesky weed.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Aug. 14, 2025

Source: Esther McGinnis, 701-231-7406, esther.mcginnis@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu