Carpetweed Identification: Confirm Before You Treat

Many Plants Called "Carpetweed"

"Carpetweed" is a common name for several unrelated plants. True carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata) is a summer annual with whorled leaves and tiny white flowers. Carpetgrass (Axonopus spp.) is a perennial warm-season grass. Other plants also share the name.

Identification First, Treatment Second

Before applying herbicide, confirm the exact species using reliable resources:

• University of Georgia Weed Identification
• University of Missouri Weed ID Guide
• Auburn University Weed Identification

Control Strategies by Type

True carpetweed (broadleaf annual): Pre-emergent herbicides in spring; post-emergent broadleaf weed killers when young.
Carpetgrass (perennial grass): Selective grassy weed herbicides (e.g., sethoxydim, fluazifop) in active growth.
Other "carpetweeds": Treatment varies—identification is essential.

Never guess. Misidentification wastes money, harms desirable plants, and fails to control the actual weed.