Carpetweed
Mollugo verticillata
A low, mat-forming summer annual that spreads flat across the ground in a star-like pattern of whorled leaves. It is a common weed of gardens, lawns and bare soil, germinating in warm weather.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Drought-tolerant
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata) is a prostrate summer annual that forms flat, spreading mats, hence its name. It is the sole common member of its family (Molluginaceae) found in many areas.
It germinates later than many weeds, appearing in warm summer soil, then quickly branches out to carpet bare ground. Each node bears a whorl of narrow leaves arranged in a tidy radiating pattern. It is common but easy to manage compared with more aggressive weeds.
How to identify it
Identify carpetweed by its whorls of narrow leaves radiating from each stem node in a flat, star-like mat.
- Smooth, slender stems lying flat and branching from a central point
- Whorls of 3-8 narrow, spoon-shaped leaves at each node
- Tiny white five-petaled flowers in small clusters at the nodes
- Forms a thin, flat mat rather than a mound
- Shallow taproot, easy to pull
Care & growing
Carpetweed is a weed; the following covers identification and control.
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Drought-tolerant; common on dry, open ground
- Soil: Sandy, gravelly or disturbed soils; tolerates poor conditions
- Temperature: Warm-season annual, killed by frost
- Propagation: By seed; germinates in late spring and summer
- Control: Easily hand-pulled or hoed; mulch and dense planting suppress it, and pre-emergent herbicides prevent germination
Habitat & origin
Carpetweed is thought to be native to tropical America and is now widespread across North America and other warm regions as a weed.
It grows in gardens, fields, lawns, sidewalk cracks, and especially in sandy or gravelly disturbed soils. It favors open, sunny, bare ground where it can spread without competition.
Frequently asked questions
Is carpetweed hard to control?
No, carpetweed is one of the easier weeds to manage. It has a shallow root and pulls out readily, and mulch, dense planting and pre-emergent herbicides prevent it from establishing.
When does carpetweed appear?
It germinates later than many weeds, emerging in warm late-spring and summer soil, then grows quickly through the hot months before dying at frost.
What does carpetweed look like?
It forms a flat mat with whorls of several narrow leaves radiating from each stem node and tiny white flowers, giving it a distinctive star-like, spreading appearance.
Where does carpetweed grow?
It favors open, sunny, bare ground, especially sandy or gravelly disturbed soils, and turns up in gardens, lawns, fields, and sidewalk cracks.
Carpetweed guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Carpetweed.
