Hairy Galinsoga

Galinsoga ciliata

Weed Description
An abundant seed-producing summer annual with hairy leaves and stems, reaching 2 feet in height. Primarily a weed of vegetable crops, however it may occur in any cultivated situation. Found throughout the eastern and midwestern United States, and also on the west coast.

Seedlings
Cotyledons club-shaped with slightly indented tip. The stem below the cotyledon (hypocotyl) is very short, green, becoming maroon with age. Young leaves opposite, triangular with slightly toothed margins, and covered with hairs.

Leaves
Opposite, oval to triangular, coarsely-toothed, petiolated, and densely covered with hairs on the upper surface. Lower leaf surfaces have hairs that primarily occur on the veins.

Stems
Erect, reaching 2 feet in height, freely- branched, green or less often maroon-tinted, and covered with hairs.

Flowers
Many flowers are produced from terminal stems or from the areas where petioles meet the stem (leaf axils). Flowers are less than 1 cm wide and consist of 4 to 5 white (or less often pink), 3-toothed ray flowers (outer flowers) and many yellow disk flowers (inner flowers).

Fruit
A brown to black achene, 1 1/2 mm long, hairy, tapered from the base to the apex, with a white pappus that resembles a crown.

Roots
Fibrous.

Identifying Characteristics
Hairy stems and leaves, and 3-toothed ray flowers. The densely hairy nature of this weed helps to distinguish this weed from Smallflower Galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora), which is very similar but much less hairy than hairy galinsoga.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Hairy Galinsoga

Galinsoga ciliata