Life cycle
Perennial emerges from large yellowish taproot; also grows from seed.
Growth habit
Basal rosettes of 6-12 in. long leaves.
Reproduction
Flowering stalks (right) grow up to 3 ft. tall and green, turning rusty brown, persisting through winter; seeds remain viable in soil up to 80 years; can produce from 100 - 60,000 seeds per plant.
Conditions that favor growth
Nutrient-rich, heavy damp soils; adapts to dry, poor soils.
Management in lawns
Lawn care practices.
Maintain healthy, dense turf that can compete and prevent weed establishment.
Mechanical management
Hand pulling or using an appropriate weeding tool that removes the root are the primary means of mechanical weed management. Removing the entire tap root can be difficult causing it to regrow. This is a viable option at the beginning of an infestation and on young weeds. Hand pulling when the soil is moist makes the task easier.
Manage Weeds Without Chemicals
Chemical treatment in lawns
If you choose this option, spot treat weeds with a liquid, selective, postemergent, broadleaf weed killer applied when weeds are actively growing. Look for a product with one or more of the following active ingredients: 2, 4-D, MCPP (mecoprop), Dicamba*, or Triclopyr.
*Do not spray herbicides containing dicamba over the root zone of trees and shrubs. Roots can absorb the product possibly causing plant damage. Refer to the product label for precautions.