Yellow flower ground cover weeds are a common nuisance in gardens and yards. These spreading plants can quickly invade lawns, flowerbeds, and landscaped areas with their bright golden blooms. While some yellow flowering ground covers provide ornamental value, many are aggressive invaders that outcompete desirable plants. Learning to identify and control problematic yellow weed ground covers is key to maintaining a healthy landscape.
What Are Yellow Flower Ground Cover Weeds?
Yellow flower ground cover weeds refer to low, mat-forming plants that spread via aboveground stems, underground rhizomes, or stolons. As they creep along the ground the stems root at intervals to form new plants. This allows them to quickly colonize open ground.
Many yellow weed ground covers originated in other parts of the world and were brought to North America as ornamental garden plants However, these aggressive spreaders soon escaped cultivation Without natural predators to keep them in check, they are able to invade gardens, edges of woods, and uncultivated areas.
While the colorful yellow blooms may seem appealing at first, yellow weed ground covers compete with and displace native species. They form dense colonies, depriving other plants of sunlight, moisture, nutrients, and growing space. Removing well-established yellow ground cover weeds often requires persistence over several years.
Common Yellow Flower Ground Cover Weeds
Some of the most troublesome yellow flower ground cover weeds include:
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)
This aggressive perennial weed features round, kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges on trailing stems. Abundant small, light blue-purple flowers bloom in spring. Creeping Charlie thrives in moist, shaded areas and quickly forms dense mats. Manual removal is difficult due to its spreading rhizomes.
Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
Yellow archangel produces clusters of yellow flowers on square stems with opposite leaves. This mint family invader spreads rapidly by aboveground runners that root where they contact soil. It overtakes gardens, crowding out native wildflowers.
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Lesser celandine emerges early each spring to carpet areas with dark green, shiny, heart-shaped leaves. Bright yellow flowers with eight to 12 petals provide a short burst of color before the foliage dies back by summer. This buttercup relative spreads vigorously via tubers and plant fragments.
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
Creeping buttercup forms mats of foliage with glossy dark green, divided leaves. This perennial weed displays bright golden cup-shaped flowers throughout spring and summer. Each plant can spread over 3 feet per year via rooting stolons and seeds. It invades lawns, borders, and bare ground.
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Also called creeping Jenny, moneywort is grown as a ground cover due to its rapid spreading habit. This low creeper has rounded, coin-shaped leaves on trailing stems. Occasional small yellow flowers bloom in summer. It can overwhelm other plants and may require control.
Impacts of Yellow Flower Ground Cover Weeds
The key to minimizing adverse impacts is early detection and intervention. Eliminating small patches before they expand is much easier than trying to control widespread infestations. This prevents destructive yellow ground cover weeds from compromising native habitats.
How to Control Yellow Flower Ground Cover Weeds
Controlling unwelcome yellow flower ground cover weeds requires persistence using an integrated approach:
Manual Removal
For small patches, carefully dig out plants, trying to extract all roots and rhizomes. Bag and discard the debris. Frequent hand-weeding throughout one or more growing seasons depletes the weed. Combine with mulching to block regrowth.
Cutting/Mowing
Severing stems and leaves at ground level every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer prevents flowering and stops invasive ground covers from spreading while exhausting root nutrients.
Smothering
Cover areas with opaque material such as black plastic, yard waste bags, or cardboard topped with mulch. This blocks light and causes the yellow weed ground cover to die back. Keep covered for several months.
Herbicides
Applying systemic herbicides directly on actively growing foliage can provide chemical control. Use with caution to avoid off-target damage to desirable plants. Always follow label directions.
Lawn Improvement
Promoting vigorous turfgrass growth by fertilizing, aerating, and proper mowing crowds out yellow weed ground cover invaders. Thick healthy lawn areas resist invasion.
Replanting
Establish desirable ornamental ground covers or native plants after removing invasive yellow flower weeds. Ensure timely maintenance of new plantings to occupy the area.
An integrated plan adjusts tactics as needed over multiple seasons. The plant’s growth habits dictate proper timing of management methods. Preventing introduced yellow flower ground cover weeds from establishing avoids much more work to eliminate them once entrenched. Frequent monitoring also allows promptly spot-treating small patches before they enlarge into daunting expanses smothering everything in a blanket of hard-to-eradicate yellow flowers and foliage. With persistence, you can reclaim your landscape from invasive yellow weed ground covers.
Identifying Lawn Weeds with Yellow Flowers
Black medic is a low-growing annual or perennial weed with distinctive yellow flowers, often found in lawns and disturbed areas. It typically forms prostrate mats close to the ground, with compound leaves consisting of three leaflets. The stems can sprawl or ascend, and the plant features clusters of small yellow flowers.
Appearance: This low-growing weed features clover-like leaves and clusters of small, yellow flowers.
Habitat: It thrives in sunny locations, making lawns susceptible to infestations.
Life cycle: Annual or perennial. Produces seeds and spreads through creeping stems. Its ability to form dense patches can impact the aesthetics and health of lawns.
Management of black medic involves cultural practices, such as regular mowing, to weaken the plant. Manual removal is effective for small infestations.
Selective pre and post-emergent herbicides: Selective herbicides designed for broadleaf weed control may be considered for more extensive control.
Buttercups exhibit various growth forms, including annuals, perennials, and herbaceous or woody plants. The most common species feature glossy yellow flowers with distinctive petal-like sepals. Despite their charming appearance, many buttercup species contain toxins that can be harmful to livestock if ingested.
Appearance: Buttercup flowers are characterized by their five petal-like sepals. The vibrant yellow color and shiny appearance give them a buttery glow, inspiring the common name.
Habitat: Commonly found in moist, fertile soil, but can adapt to various conditions.
Life cycle: Annual or perennial. Reproduces through seeds and creeping roots.
Management of buttercups involves cultural practices, such as regular mowing, to weaken the plant. Manual removal is effective for small infestations.
Improve soil drainage: Buttercups often thrive in moist conditions. Improve soil drainage by addressing any waterlogged areas in your lawn.
Fertilize appropriately: Conduct a soil test and fertilize your lawn according to its needs. Ensuring the grass is healthy and robust can help it compete with buttercups.
Selective post-emergent herbicides: Selective herbicides designed for broadleaf weed control may be considered for more extensive control.
Cats-ear is a perennial weed resembling dandelions, known for its distinctive yellow flowers and basal rosette of leaves. The plant typically grows close to the ground, and the stem exudes a milky sap when broken.
Appearance: Easily mistaken for dandelions but has hairy leaves. Yellow flowers appear on tall stems.
Habitat: Thrives in well-drained soil, often invading lawns and disturbed areas.
Life cycle: Perennial. Spreads through seeds and a deep taproot.
Managing cats-ear involves cultural practices such as regular fertilization and manual removal. Ensuring a healthy and well-aerated lawn can help discourage its growth. Don’t be tempted to manage cats-ear with your lawn mower as it can stimulate flower production, and multiply the number of flowers produced, especially if cut too low.
Selective post-emergent herbicides: Selective herbicides designed for broadleaf weed control may be considered for more extensive control, but several applications may be required to eliminate it completely.
Dandelions are iconic and resilient perennial plants with distinctive yellow flowers and a well-known seed head that transforms into “blowballs.”
They feature a basal rosette of deeply toothed, lance-shaped leaves and a hollow stem that supports a bright yellow flower head. The plant can grow in a wide range of environments and is adaptable to various soil conditions.
Appearance: Dandelions are renowned for their spherical seed heads, also known as “blowballs” or “clocks,” which consist of numerous parachute-like seeds attached to a central receptacle. When the wind or a gentle breath disperses these seeds, they are carried over considerable distances.
Habitat: Adaptable to various conditions, from lawns to meadows. They prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade.
Life cycle: Dandelions are perennial plants, regenerating each year from a deep taproot. While they reproduce through seeds carried by the wind, their resilience lies in the ability of the taproot to sprout new growth.
Managing dandelions involves cultural practices such as regular mowing, ensuring a well-aerated lawn, and manual removal.
Selective pre and post-emergent herbicides: Use a post-emergent herbicide specifically designed for broadleaf weeds, containing ingredients like 2,4-D or dicamba.
Celandine is a perennial herbaceous plant recognized for its distinctive yellow flowers, lobed leaves, and bright orange sap.
It typically grows upright, reaching heights of up to two feet. The plant features pinnately lobed leaves with a hairy texture, producing clusters of bright yellow flowers.
Appearance: The yellow flowers of celandine have four petals and are arranged in loose umbels. They bloom in spring and early summer. One of the most notable features of celandine is its bright orange sap, which is released when the stem or leaves are broken. While visually striking, the sap can cause skin irritation and should be handled with care.
Habitat: Flourishes in shaded areas, lawns, and disturbed soil.
Life cycle: Perennial. Produces seeds and spreads through rhizomes.
Ensuring a well-aerated garden or lawn and minimizing soil disturbance can help control its growth.
Non-selective herbicides: Celandine is impossible to control using a selective herbicide. Weed killers containing MCPA may have some effect. But the only way to treat this weed effectively using a weedkiller is to use a non-selective spot spray.
- Roundup QuikPRO (note that this weedkiller will also kill your grass, so you should apply this very carefully directly to the weed).
Yellow stonecrop (Sedum nuttallianum)
Sedums always manage to add a touch of class to any garden, but the yellow stonecrop, with its nodding clusters of yellow blooms, is a particularly eye-catching addition. Succulents usually make very low-maintenance plants, and yellow stonecrop is no exception. From March through August, you’ll be treated to sunny blooms framed beautifully by its bright green foliage without having to put in too much effort.
Growing up to around four inches tall, it’ll lend an attractive, low-level finishing touch to any rockery. If you live in a hot, dry area, planting this sedum will be a piece of cake. It is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and an easy-to-care-for ground cover that thrives in most soils as long as they’re well-draining.
All it needs is good pruning after flowering to promote bushy growth. And don’t forget to give it extra protection from cold winters with a bed of straw and or plastic cover. Although it needs extra water when new, once it’s established, you won’t need to water it much. Don’t drown your yellow stonecrop, as this can cause root rot.
Pro tips:
- Cover the sedum with a bed of straw or a sheet of plastic in winter to protect it from cold temperatures.
- Keep a close eye on young plants in the first few weeks of their life and ensure they have enough water.
- Be sure to keep a good spacing between it and other plants to avoid pests and disease.
General characteristics:
- USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 9b
- Recommended propagation strategy: Cuttings, division, seed
- Spread: Via stem rooting
- Duration: Perennial, annual
- Mature size: 4 inches tall
- Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil type: Well-draining, sandy, loamy
- Application: Rockeries, borders, container gardens
- Bloom time: Spring – summer (March through August)
- Maintenance: Low-maintenance; water sparingly
Weed Wars: 7 Powerful Ground Cover Plants to the Rescue! // Gardening Ideas
FAQ
What is an invasive ground cover with yellow flowers?
The attractive flowers are bright yellow with eight to 12 petals and reach up to three inches wide. Lesser celandine is low growing, often forming dense ground coverage once established. The plant’s shoots typically emerge as early as late January to February with flowers beginning to bloom in March and April.
What are the weeds with yellow flowers called?
-
Golf Course Lawn Storehttps://golfcourselawn.storeWhich Lawn Weeds Have Yellow Flowers? – Golf Course Lawn StoreDec 16, 2023 — Common lawn weeds with yellow flowers include: * Black medic (Medicago lupulina) * Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.) * Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) *
What ground cover has yellow flowers in spring?
The best ground covers with yellow flowers for full sun include yellow alyssum, hardy yellow ice plant, and evening primrose.
What is a small creeping plant with yellow flowers?
Creeping jenny. Creeping jenny is a low-growing plant of wet grasslands, riverbanks, ponds and wet woods. It has cup-like, yellow flowers and is a popular choice for garden ponds.
Are yellow-flowering weeds a weed?
The label “yellow-flowering weed” is usually subjective. Some stunning ornamental plants like creeping cinquefoil, yellow coneflowers, evening primrose, and golden clover are weedy. Still, they can be useful in a landscape for yellow-flowering ground cover or attracting pollinators. However, other small plants are typically recognized as weeds.
Are yellow weeds invasive?
However, other small plants are typically recognized as weeds. These include dandelions, purslane, ragwort, and wood sorrel. Flowering weeds with yellow flowers can add a burst of color to any garden or landscape—wanted or unwanted. Many non-native plants are invasive; however, many yellow-flowering weeds benefit the ecosystem.
What weeds have yellow flowers?
Weeds with yellow flowers are among the most common types of flowering weeds. Here’s how you can identify some of the species you’re most likely to come across: Yellow hawkweed is also known as meadow hawkweed. The weed looks similar to the common dandelion.
Are yellow flowering weeds stealing water?
These yellow flowering weeds can be pesky plants that grow quickly and aggressively, making these intruders difficult to control or remove. If you have a garden with flowers, vegetables or fruits, these wild yellow plants could be stealing water, nutrients and sunlight from your lawn.
Why do weeds have yellow flowers?
The weeds with yellow flowers often compete with desirable plants for resources like water, nutrients, and sunlight, hindering their growth. They can be invasive and resilient and tend to thrive in diverse environments. These characteristics of weedy plants make them challenging to control. The label “yellow-flowering weed” is usually subjective.
What does a yellow weed look like?
Described as a noxious weed, the yellow-flowering plant is covered in golden-yellow star-like five-petalled blooms up to 0.78” (2 cm) across. Its leaves are typically linear or elongated oval and feature translucent glands. This perennial plant has all the characteristics of an annoying weed.