Image courtesy of Weed Science Society of America.
Image courtesy of Glenn Miller, Oregon Department of Agriculture.
If images are downloaded and used from the ODA web site please be sure to credit the photographer.
Description Annual; blooms June to October. Grows from two feet to seven feet tall. Completely covered in soft hairs. Leaves alternate, heart-shaped and five or more inches in width. Flowers yellow, five petaled and solitary in leaf axils.
Impacts Velvetleaf has been a serious weed in corn and soybeans but newer herbicides have allowed for better control. It is commonly found in cultivated fields, gardens, fencerows, and waste areas. It is an alternate host for tobacco streak and turnip mosaic viruses. The seeds retain their viability in the soil for more than 50 years, making control difficult.
Introduction This weed is native to Asia. Introduced to North America as a potential fiber crop in the mid-1700s and now is common in many cropping systems in the U.S.
Distribution in Oregon The first recorded site was 1928 in Yamhill County.
Biological controls No approved biological control agent is available at this time.
