Hawksbeard

Crepis capillaris

Hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris) is a common annual or biennial weed found throughout New Zealand in turf, lawns, crops and newly sown pasture. Hawksbeard has a rosette form while vegetative but grows up to 45 cm when flowering. It is often confused with dandelion but is distinctive in having multiple, branched flower stems.

Related Pests

Willow Weed

Persicaria maculosa

Willow weed (Persicaria maculosa) is an erect and sprawling summer growing annual that can be a serious weed in crops (e.g. maize). It has reddish stems and pink spike like flowers. It is common in the spring and summer throughout New Zealand but is quickly killed by frosts. A similar species, water pepper, grows taller and is common in wet places.

Black Nightshade

Solanum nigrum

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is a significant weed in arable and horticultural crops but it is also common in disturbed pasture. Black nightshade is present throughout New Zealand but less so in the lower South Island. Distinctive black berries (7-10 mm) can be found on mature plants.

Fathen

Chenopodium album

Fathen (Chenopodium album), pronounced fat-hen and sometimes called fat hen, is one of the most serious weeds of cropping throughout New Zealand. It is an annual that germinates in the spring and early summer and then dies off in the autumn with frosts. Fathen is an extremely vigorous weed that can quickly outcompete and smother crops. An upright plant that can grow to 2 m tall and is a prolific seeder.