Weeds of Oklahoma
Common Name Index

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Common Name

Latin Name

Competitiveness
Rating

Comments and
Conditions

alfalfa dodder Cuscuta suaveolens Ser.

Low

Not usually a problem with haying, but need to control if harvesting alfalfa seed.
amaranth, Palmer
Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.

High

Major summer weed problem in new spring plantings and thinning stands.
annual bluegrass Poa annua L. Low Occasionally in thin stands.
Asiatic dayflower Commelina communis L. Medium Sometimes present, but seldom a problem
barley, little Hordeum pusillum Nutt. Low Sometimes coming into thinning stands. Low quality, so need to control.
barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
bearded sprangletop Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) Gray High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. High Can be a major problem if established plants not controlled before planting alfalfa.
blue mustard Chorispora tenella (Pallas) DC. High Currently only present in northern most counties of northwest Oklahoma. Can become a major problem in fall establishment of new stands.
bluegrass, annual Poa annua L. Low Occasionally in thin stands.
brome, downy Bromus tectorum L. High Primary winter grass coming into thinning stands. Poor forage quality, so need to control.
brome, Japanese Bromus japonicus Thunb. ex Murr. High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
buckhorn plantain
(also English plantain, ribwort, ribgrass, narrowleaf plantain)
Plantago lanceolata L. Low Some problem in NE Oklahoma in seedling and established stands.
buffalobur Solanum rostratum Dun. Medium Occasionally a problem in spring-planted stands on newly plowed areas.
bull thistle Cirsium vulgare NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
burning bush
(see kochia)
     
bushy wallflower
(also spreading wormseed)
Erysimum repandum L. Medium Sometimes in fall-planted stands in northwest Oklahoma.
Canada thistle Cirsium discolor NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
cheat Bromus secalinus L. High Major problem in fall-planted alfalfa following wheat.
chickweed, common Stellaria media (L.) Vill. Low Often present, but not usually a problem.
common chickweed Stellaria media (L.) Vill. Low Often present, but not usually a problem.
common lambsquarters Chenopodium album L. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
coreopsis, plains Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.

Medium

Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
crabgrass, large Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. High Major weed in spring-planted alfalfa and in thinning stands.
crabgrass, smooth Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. ex Schweig.) Schreb. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
cupgrass, prairie Eriochloa contracta Hitchc. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
cupgrass, southwestern Eriochloa gracilis (Fourn.)A.S.Hitchc. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
curly dock Rumex crispus L. Medium Becomes established at time of planting alfalfa and is usually persistent in low wet areas of field.
cutleaf eveningprimrose, Oenothera laciniata Hill Medium Fairly common in new fall-planted alfalfa.
dayflower, Asiatic Commelina communis L. Medium Sometimes present, but seldom a problem
dandelion Taraxacum officinale Weber in Wiggers

Low

Sometimes present, but very seldom a problem.
dock, curly Rumex crispus L. Medium Becomes established at time of planting alfalfa and is usually persistent in low wet areas of field.
dodder, alfalfa Cuscuta suaveolens Ser.

Low

 

Not usually a problem with haying, but need to control if harvesting alfalfa seed.
downy brome Bromus tectorum L. High Primary winter grass coming into thinning stands. Poor forage quality, so need to control.
English plantain
(see buckhorn plantain)
     
eveningprimrose, cutleaf Oenothera laciniata Hill Medium Fairly common in new fall-planted alfalfa.
field sandbur Cenchrus incertus M.A.Curtis High Major weed problem in sandy areas.
fireweed
(see kochia)
     
flixweed Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb. ex Prantl High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands. Fairly common mustard in NW Oklahoma.
foxtail, giant Setaria faberi Herrm. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands. Distribution limited to NE Oklahoma.
foxtail, green Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
foxtail, yellow Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
garlic, wild Allium vineale L.

Low

 

Sometimes present, but seldom a problem

giant foxtail

Setaria faberi Herrm. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands. Distribution limited to NE Oklahoma.
goatgrass, jointed Aegilops cylindrica Host High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands. Mostly in western Oklahoma.
goosegrass Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Medium Occasionally a problem in low areas in wet years.
greenflower pepperweed Lepidium densiflorum Schrad. Medium Can be a problem in fall-planted and in thinning stands.
green foxtail Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
henbit Lamium amplexicaule L. Low Usually present, but seldom a problem.
horseweed Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. Medium Occasionally a problem in thinning stands.
Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum Lam. High Major winter weed problem in newly planted fall stands. Also often in thinning stands. Has good forage quality, so can be utilized as hay or grazing.
Japanese brome Bromus japonicus Thunb. ex Murr. High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
johnsongrass Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. High Can be a major problem if established plants not controlled before planting alfalfa.
jointed goatgrass Aegilops cylindrica Host High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands. Mostly in western Oklahoma.
kochia
(also fireweed, burning bush)
Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands. Mostly in western Oklahoma.
lambsquarters, common Chenopodium album L. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
lambsquarters, slimleaf Chenopodium leptophyllum L. Medium Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
large crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. High Major weed in spring-planted alfalfa and in thinning stands.
lettuce, prickly Lactuca serriola L. Medium Occurs both in newly fall-planted and thinning stands. Large plants hard to dry in hay.
little barley Hordeum pusillum Nutt. Low Sometimes coming into thinning stands. Low quality, so need to control.
musk thistle
(also nodding thistle)
Carduus nutans L. High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
mustard, blue Chorispora tenella (Pallas) DC. High Currently only present in northern most counties of northwest Oklahoma. Can become a major problem in fall establishment of new stands.
narrowleaf plantain
(see buckhorn plantain)
     
nodding thistle
(see musk thistle)
     
nutsedge, yellow Cyperus esculentus L. Medium Usually not a problem in alfalfa because of frequent cutting of hay.
Palmer amaranth
Amaranthus palmeri S.Wats.

High

Major summer weed problem in new spring plantings and thinning stands.
pepperweed, greenflower Lepidium densiflorum Schrad. Medium Can be a problem in fall-planted and in thinning stands.
pepperweed, veiny Lepidium oblongum Small Medium Can be a problem in fall-planted and in thinning stands of alfalfa. Resistant to the sulfonyurea herbicides
pigweed, redroot Amaranthus retroflexus L. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
pigweed, tumble Amaranthus albus L. Medium Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
pinnate tansymustard Descurainia pinnata (Walt.) Britt High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
plains coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.

Medium

Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
plantain, buckhorn Plantago lanceolata L. Low Some problem in NE Oklahoma in seedling and established stands.
poppy, red horned Glausium corniculatum (L.) Rudolph Medium Becoming a major weed problem in certain western areas in newly fall-planted stands.
prairie cupgrass Eriochloa contracta Hitchc. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola L. Medium Occurs both in newly fall-planted and thinning stands. Large plants hard to dry in hay.
prickly sowthistle
(see spiny sowthistle)
     
ragweed, common Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
red horned poppy Glausium corniculatum (L.) Rudolph Medium Becoming a major weed problem in certain western areas in newly fall-planted stands.
redroot pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus L. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
red sprangletop Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
rescuegrass Bromus catharticus Vahl High Major winter weed problem in newly planted fall stands. Also often in thinning stands. Has good forage quality, so can be utilized as hay or grazing.
ribgrass 
(see buckhorn plantain)
     
ribwort 
(see buckhorn plantain)
     
rush, slender Juncus tenuis Willd Low Occasionally present, but seldom a problem.
Russian thistle Salsola iberica Sennen & Pau High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands
ryegrass, Italian Lolium multiflorum Lam. High Major winter weed problem in newly planted fall stands. Also often in thinning stands. Has good forage quality, so can be utilized as hay or grazing.
sandbur, field Cenchrus incertus M.A.Curtis High Major weed problem in sandy areas.
scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
shepherdspurse Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medicus Medium Commonly found mustard in newly fall-planted alfalfa and in thinning stands.
slender rush Juncus tenuis Willd Low Occasionally present, but seldom a problem.
slimleaf lambsquarters Chenopodium leptophyllum L. Medium Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
smooth crabgrass Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. ex Schweig.) Schreb. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
southwestern cupgrass Eriochloa gracilis (Fourn.)A.S.Hitchc. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
sowthistle, spiny
(also prickly sowthistle)
Sonchus asper (L.) Hill Medium Occasionally found in newly fall-planted and thinning stands.
spiny sowthistle
(also prickly sowthistle)
Sonchus asper (L.) Hill Medium Occasionally found in newly fall-planted and thinning stands.
sprangletop, bearded Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) Gray High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
sprangletop, red Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
spreading wormseed 
(see bushy wallflower)
     
tall waterhemp Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D.Sauer High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
tansymustard, pinnate Descurainia pinnata (Walt.) Britt High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
thistle, bull Cirsium vulgare NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
thistle, Canada Cirsium discolor NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
thistle, musk
(also nodding thistle)
Carduus nutans L. High Can be a problem in newly fall-planted and in thinning stands.
thistle, Russian Salsola iberica Sennen & Pau High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands
thistle, scotch Onopordum acanthium NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
thistle, wavyleaf Cirsium undulatum NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
tumble pigweed Amaranthus albus L. Medium Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
veiny pepperweed Lepidium oblongum Small Medium Can be a problem in fall-planted and in thinning stands of alfalfa. Resistant to the sulfonyurea herbicides
volunteer wheat Triticum aestivum L. High Major problem in newly fall-planted stands following wheat.
wallflower, bushy Erysimum repandum L. Medium Sometimes in fall-planted stands in northwest Oklahoma.
waterhemp, tall Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D.Sauer High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum NA Not normally found in alfalfa fields.
wheat, volunteer Triticum aestivum L. High Major problem in newly fall-planted stands following wheat.
wild garlic Allium vineale L.

Low

Sometimes present, but seldom a problem
windmillgrass Chloris verticillata Nutt. Medium Commonly coming into thinning stands
yellow foxtail Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. High Can be a problem in newly spring-planted and in thinning stands.
yellow nutsedge Cyperus esculentus L. Medium Usually not a problem in alfalfa because of frequent cutting of hay.

Seasonal Groupings of Alfalfa Weeds

 

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