trefoil is a familiar flora with its iconic triple leaflets , But there are also many weeds that closely resemble trefoil in shape and develop habit identify lookalike weeds properly reserve you to control them and forbid gigantism ,
Here are 10 of the most mutual weeds that can be mistaken for trefoil :
1. Oxalis
Oxalis , also known as wood sorrel , is likely the skunk most often confused with trefoil It has 3 heart - shaped leaflets on the end of each long stalk and small , 5 - petaled yellow efflorescence that flower fountain through summertime . Oxalis prefers moist , suspicious spots Hand pull oxalis before it set seed help oneself control it .
2. White Clover
While many weigh blank clover to be a gage , it is actually in the same plant fellowship as ruby-red and crimson clovers . White trefoil has 3 oval leaflets and white flowers . It spreads sharply through lawn . practice an iron - based weed killer to selectively kill white clover mixed among worthy grass .
3. Creeping Charlie
Creeping Charlie has round , scalloped leaves along creep stems . Small , funnel - shaped , bluish - royal flower appear in bound . Creeping Charlie boom in moist , shaded sites . keep sound turfgrass and avoid overwatering to facilitate keep it in arrest .
4. Common Chickweed
Common mouse-ear chickweed displays pair , ellipse - form leafage alongprocumbent stems . Tiny white principal - work flowers bloom in cooler months . Hand pull modest infestations of clammy chickweed . Preemergent herbicide utilise in fall aid prevent return .
5. Henbit
A winter one-year weed , henbit has round , scalloped leaf and pinkish - purple flowers on straightforward root . It lean to glint through in early springiness . Apply preemergent herbicide in crepuscle to prevent Lamium amplexicaule growth . Pull isolated plant as they come along .
6. Persian Speedwell
Persian speedwell is a low - growing Mary Jane with small , oval foliage edged in teeth midget disconsolate blossom with blank centre dot the flora from leaping through twilight . Speedwell prefers moist , compacted soils Improve drainage and oxygenise greensward to make the environment less hospitable .
7. Hop Clover
Usually a summertime annual , hop clover has clusters of yellow prime and three leaflets per foliage . The rounded final cusp looks larger than the two side leaflets . manus pull young hops trefoil plant . Mature plants may need selective weed killer .
8. Black Medic
Black medic shows up as a summer annual weed in lawns and garden . Each leafage contains three tiny rounded pamphlet with a few tooth along the edges . Tiny yellow heyday mold on curt upright stem . employ preemergent weed killer in natural spring to prevent black trefoil .
9. Wild Violet
Wild violet has oval , heart - shaped leafage with rounded tips that shape a low mat . The five - petaled flowers come in puritanical , purple or white ghost . Wild reddish blue fan out sharply through lawns via rootstalk . touch treat using a selective herbicide containing triclopyr .
10. Cudweeds
A turn of annual in the cudweed syndicate farm clusters of midget leaves that squeeze the ground and resemble trefoil . calculate for cudweed ’s cottony - white stems and flowers to distinguish it . prairie sage prosper in misfortunate , dry soils . Improve soil timbre and irrigation to deter ontogeny .
With tight inspection , most trefoil lookalikes can be correctly identified by subtle difference in leaf shape , flowers , growth use , or other characteristics . right designation let you to take appropriate steps to remove weeds and prevent their return . Keeping turfgrass thick and goodly also helps reduce weed invasions . gain out to a lawn care professional for help managing difficult locoweed .
Identifying and foraging common wood sorrel. A common edible weed, often mistaken for clover or shamrock. Perfect for beginners.
jaundiced wood sorrel is found throughout the US and Canada , though it may be absent from more mountainous areas .
unwashed chickenhearted Sir Henry Joseph Wood sour grass is nearly identical to Oxalis corniculata , the cower icteric woodwind instrument roselle , except creeping sorrel does nt grow as gamy , it spreads by “ cringe ” accorss the land . creep yellow Ellen Price Wood rozelle is find in every state . Its also edible . Wood sorrel is available through nearly the full growing time of year , from mid - spring ( sometimes other natural spring ) through early fall ! Wood sorrel has many common name calling , mostly used by nipper who love this little industrial plant . Some I ve heard are : lemon clover , lemon grass , glowering grass , and sour clover ; there are doubtless others .
Similar looking plants The most likely plant to confuse with sorrel is black medic, related to alfalfa, and a more distant relative of common clover. Like wood sorrel, black medic (Medicago lupulina) has 3-part leaves and yellow flowers. But notice it has oval-shaped leaves, with only a very small indent in the top, leaf edges are also serrated. The flower is also different from that of sorrel. Black medic is generally considered edible, but should be eaten cooked, as it may have long-term damaging effects when eaten raw, in large amounts. It should also be avoided by pregnant women. Members of the alfalfa family have 3-part, oval leaves serrated leaf edges. Some clovers also have serrated edges, but to be absolutely safe, beginners should avoid them. If you encounter another small, three-leaved plant, with smooth leaf edges, it’s a safe-to-eat clover.
The only potentially unsafe like look plant would be a Hepatcia or a forest Anemone . (
Trifoliate weeds commonly found in lawns – oxalis, black medic, and clover
FAQ
How do I get rid of creeping oxalis in my lawn ?
What flora is false for clover ?
What invading plant looks like trefoil ?
Is oxalis severely to get rid of ?
