Have you walked through the garden and noticed a little plant with yellow flowers growing near your vegetable plants? If you have, then there is a chance that what you are seeing is a weed. There are many weeds with yellow flowers.
Weeds with yellow flowers
Weeds often have flowers that are bright yellow in color. While these plants may look beautiful if left to grow in the garden, they will compete with your vegetables. Below is a list of weeds that have yellow flowers.
Dandelions
Most of us are very familiar with dandelions. These pesky weeds have bright yellow flowers, and are not hard to spot. When left to grow in the garden or on the lawn, dandelions can starve other plants of nutrients.
Dandelions will also spread quickly and come back every year if you don’t do something about them.
Spiny Sowthistle
Spiny sowthistle is a common weed that many of us find in the garden or open field. It is often confused with dandelion due to the shape of its leaves and the color of its flowers.
If found in the garden, spiny sowthistle should not be allowed to go to seed. This weed can quickly take over the garden, and can be a real pain to control.
Butterweed
This yellow flowering weed is native to North America, and gardeners have been dealing with this problem plant for centuries. Butterweed will grow in large clumps and will flower in the spring.
During the growth stage, this weed will leak nutrients from the soil, robbing neighboring plants of food.
Creeping Jenny
Not as common as other yellow flower weeds on the list, Creeping Jenny can be found in some parts of the United States. When this weed gets into the garden, it can easily take over your growing space. It is a low-growing weed that can spread like wildfire if left unchecked.
Goat Head Weed
This weed is famous for being noxious and can be hard to get rid of. Goat Head Weed has sharp thorns that have been known to puncture shoes and even bike tires. This is one weed with yellow flowers that you don’t want growing anywhere near you.
Goldenrod
While goldenrod is sometimes grown in the garden for herbal remedies, it is considered a weed by many. Goldenrod is a prolific grower that puts on bright yellow flowers in the spring. When not under control goldenrod can quickly choke out other plants by stealing their space and sunlight.
Golden Clover
In some cases, golden clover is planted to help prevent erosion. However, if it gets loose in the garden, you may have a problem.
This yellow flowering weed is native to Asia and Europe but has become naturalized in North America. It produces a large flower head that appears to be flowing out of the top of the stem.
While this weed is truly beautiful, it can take over the garden pushing out other crops.
Yellow Hawkweed
This strange-sounding weed has beautiful yellow flowers that can’t be missed. Yellow hawkweed is another plant that looks a lot like the dandelion plant. It can produce up to 30 yellow flower heads per plant, which makes this weed a fast spreader.
Yellow Bur Weed
This yellow flowering weed is native to America, but it now grows all over the world. Yellow bur weed can grow up to 2-feet tall, shading out anything that may be growing nearby.
The leaves of the plant are covered in rough hairs that can be abrasive when brushed against. The seeds of the plant, have burs on them, giving this plant its name.
Common Ragweed
Most of you are already familiar with common ragweed. This yellow-flowered weed is the cause of many cases of seasonal allergies every year.
Common ragweed can be toxic to some animals and should not be allowed to grow near cows and other herbivores. If allowed to go to seed common ragweed will spread and take over your garden space.
Marsh Yellowcress
This weed thrives in areas that have plenty of moisture. Marsh yellowcress can be a problem in the garden and in plant nurseries. Luckily it is easy to get rid of because it has a shallow root system. Marsh yellowcress can pop up during any part of the growing season, so make sure you keep an eye out for it.
Wild Parsnip
This weed which produces a yellow flower, can be a real issue in the garden. Not only is this plant harmful to other plants, it can also make humans sick. Wild parsnip leaves contain a chemical that can burn the skin. Symptoms of exposure to this plant can last as long as 2 years.
The plant has toothy leaves that are yellow, making it easy to identify. It is a hardy weed that can grow in just about any soil type. Wet or dry soils don’t seem to bother this invasive weed.
Yellow Rocket
Yellow rocket is a beautiful weed that produces some of the brightest yellow flowers you will ever see. Unfortunately, it can take over a garden in just one growing season.
Yellow rocket is commonly found growing in pastures and on lawns. To get rid of yellow rocket, pull it from the ground as soon as you see it emerge. Dealing with this plant when it is young is the best way to get it under control.
Yellow Salsify
Last but not least, we have yellow salsify. As the name implies, this weed produces yellow flowers during the spring of the year. This weed is a sun-loving plant that will invade every sunny corner of your garden.
Yellow salsify grows up to 3-feet wide and 4-feet tall. This allows it to shade out other plants and take control of the garden. Getting rid of this weed is important, because it will take root just about anywhere the sun is shining.
Weeds with yellow flowers : Conclusion
If you noticed a plant in the garden with pretty yellow flowers on it, chances are, it is a weed.
So, make sure you do your homework and find out what you are dealing with. Weeds can quickly ruin your dreams of a beautiful garden.