- Step 1: Hand pull Pull velvetleaf plants by hand before their flowers have produced. Try to pull them out by the roots.
- TIP: Wear garden gloves to protect your hands.
- Step 2: Dig Use a garden trowel to dig up velvetleaf before it blooms.
- Step 3: Spray Fill your spray bottle with white vinegar that has a 10 to 20 percent acetic acid concentration and the vinegar generously onto the velvetleaf.
- TIP: Apply the vinegar in the morning and before the plants have grown more than 4 inches in height.
- Step 4: Pull Pull or dig up the dead velvetleaf after it has dried out.
- FACT: Each velvetleaf plant can produce between 700 to 17,000 seeds and can remain viable for 50 to 60 years.
How do you get rid of velvetleaf?
Because velvetleaf can emerge from a 2" depth in the soil profile, it is difficult to remove with a rotary hoe once it is established. Flaming: Flaming is effective on small velvetleaf plants. Crop rotation: Velvetleaf is not problematic in small grains or forages.
What is a velvetleaf plant?
Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) is an aggressive annual weed that is throughout the United States, and a significant weed of corn and soybean production. The plant thrives in nutrient-rich soils and competes aggressively with crops for nutrients.
Why is velvetleaf bad for plants?
Because of velvetleaf’s tall growth, it can severely reduce light penetration to crop plants. Velvetleaf also harbors several diseases and pests of corn, cotton, soybeans, and other crops as well as inhibiting germination of some crop seeds, possibly through chemicals released into the soil.
Can you plant velvetleaf in the summer?
As most velvetleaf emerge in the spring , delayed planting or rotating to a summer crop can eliminate seedlings through tillage. Since velvetleaf does not set seeds until late summer, early harvest crops such as winter/spring small grains also work well to interrupt its life cycle.

How do you get rid of velvet leaf?
0:051:08How to Kill Velvetleaf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd spray the vinegar generously onto the velvetleaf. Apply the vinegar in the morning. And beforeMoreAnd spray the vinegar generously onto the velvetleaf. Apply the vinegar in the morning. And before the plants have grown more than four inches in height step 4 polar dig up the dead velvetleaf.
Should I pull velvet leaf?
If you're fighting a small stand of velvetleaf weeds, you can pull them by hand before the plant goes to seed. Pull the weeds when the soil is moist. Use a shovel, if necessary, as pieces of roots that remain in the soil will sprout new weeds. Pulling is more effective when the soil is moist.
Is velvet leaf invasive?
Invasive species theophrasti is considered a damaging weed to agricultural crops, especially corn and soybeans. Since being introduced to North America in the 18th century, velvetleaf has become an invasive species in agricultural regions of the eastern and midwestern United States.
How can you tell if a leaf is velvet?
Velvetleaf, a regulated Class B noxious weed, is an annual that grows 3-8 feet tall in farms and disturbed areas, among other settings. It has a taproot; a stout stem with soft hairs; alternate, round or heart-shaped leaves; and 3/4-inch-wide, yellow to orange flowers with five petals.
Is velvet leaf poisonous to dogs?
Alocasias are another plant that have grown quite popular throughout 2020 and 2021 with their heart- and arrow-shaped leaves. Some of the more popular varieties include alocasia silver dragon, dragon scale alocasia, and alocasia black velvet. Unfortunately, they're also very poisonous (to both humans and pets).
Is velvet leaf poisonous to cattle?
The Poaceae family is commonly called the grass family. The common name “Velvet Grass” refers to the velvety texture of the leaves and inflorescence. Velvet Grass is a weed of sterile or sandy, moist, open ground of fields, meadows, and waste places. Velvet Grass may be poisonous to livestock when not fully dry.
What tree has velvety leaves?
Anthurium Clarinervium Plants with Velvety Leaves The beautiful velvety plant produces heart-shaped leaves with a soft velvety texture. The dark green color rules these leaves and there are shades of light green underneath them.
What plant has leaves that feel like velvet?
So-called Furry Feather or Velvet Calathea due to the tiny hairs that cover its waxy leaves and stems and give the plant a soft, velvety feel. Calathea rufibarba is a tall Calathea variety with red stems and deep blue-green, elongated leaves with a dark purple underside.
What is velvet plants?
Definition of 'velvet plant' 1. a composite plant, Gynura aurantiaca, native to the Old World tropics, having leaves and stems covered with dense, velvety, purple hairs and often cultivated as a houseplant. Compare purple passion. 2. the common mullein, Verbascum thapsus.
What is velvet leave?
Velvetleaf, a summer annual broadleaf plant, is a problematic weed for many crops in the United States, particularly where cotton, corn, or soybeans are major crops. It was introduced to North America from southern Asia in the mid-1700s as a potential fiber crop.
What is the botanical name of velvet leaf?
Abutilon theophrastiVelvetleaf / Scientific namevelvetleaf, (Abutilon theophrasti), also called Indian mallow or China jute, annual hairy plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae) native to southern Asia. The plant is cultivated in northern China for its fibre and is widely naturalized in warmer regions of North America, where it is often a serious agricultural weed.
How do you clean velvet plants?
2:1111:28Cleaning My Leaves! | Lemon vs Vinegar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just a microfiber cloth and some filtered. Water. You want to make sure to get the undersides ofMoreSo just a microfiber cloth and some filtered. Water. You want to make sure to get the undersides of the leaves -.
Do bees like velvetleaf?
Velvetleaf is primarily pollinated by bees. Numerous species of bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen such as bumblebees, leaf-cutters, halictid bees. Butterflies are also reported to visit the flowers, although I've never seen one (but I don't let the plant live, either).
What plant has leaves that feel like velvet?
So-called Furry Feather or Velvet Calathea due to the tiny hairs that cover its waxy leaves and stems and give the plant a soft, velvety feel. Calathea rufibarba is a tall Calathea variety with red stems and deep blue-green, elongated leaves with a dark purple underside.
What outdoor plant has velvety leaves?
Velvet Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron Micans) This velvet leaf plant is also called the “Sweetheart Plant.” The Velvet Leaf Philodendron is native to Mexico, West Indies, and Brazil as it thrives best in the deep rainforest.
How to prevent velvetleaf from growing?
Do not till or plow infested areas because this promotes seed germination. Crop rotation can help prevent favorable growing conditions for velvetleaf. Avoid nutrient loading because velvetleaf is opportunistic and will use additional nutrients to extend its flowering period and increase seed production.
When to spray velvetleaf?
Also, its leaves tends to droop or wilt in the late afternoon, so spraying is more effective in the morning or midday.
How does velvetleaf affect crops?
Because of velvetleaf’s tall growth, it can severely reduce light penetration to crop plants. Velvetleaf also harbors several diseases and pests of corn, cotton, soybeans, and other crops as well as inhibiting germination of some crop seeds, possibly through chemicals released into the soil. As a result, velvetleaf has become a major weed in many crops of North America, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, berries, and asparagus.
How long does velvetleaf last?
However, because seeds can remain viable in the soil for 50 years or more, velvetleaf can be very difficult to eradicate if infestations are allowed to persist and produce seed. It is important to watch carefully for this plant and remove it as soon as it is found.
How tall does velvetleaf grow?
Velvetleaf, a regulated Class B noxious weed, is an annual that grows 3-8 feet tall in farms and disturbed areas, among other settings. It has a taproot; a stout stem with soft hairs; alternate, round or heart-shaped leaves; and 3/4-inch-wide, yellow to orange flowers with five petals. This weed spreads via abundant seeds ...
Is velvetleaf a weed?
As a result, velvetleaf has become a major weed in many crops of North America, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, berries, and asparagus.
Can you spot Velvetleaf in the summer?
Prevention and Small Patches: Velvetleaf is a large, conspicuous plant when it is flowering, so it is not difficult to spot it in the summer months. Also, single plants can be easily pulled or dug up before they go to seed, so early detection and rapid response is not difficult with this weed.
What happens when velvetleaf seeds fall?
By the time the velvetleaf seeds fall to the soil surface, 12 to 30% of the seeds have been destroyed by this insect. Once the seed falls to the ground, it is eatten by mice and insects (e.g. some species of carabid beetles).
How long does it take for velvetleaf to germinate?
Planting date: Tilling in he spring triggers velvetleaf to germinate. However, velvetleaf continues to germinate for 8 to 10 weeks. Because of the extended time of emergence, planting early or planting late to redice velvetleaf infestations may not be effective.
Why is velvetleaf not a food source?
Velvetleaf seed is not a preferred food source of insects because it is larger than lambsquarters and pigweed seeds. Decay: Velvetleaf seed coats have fungal associations that appear to protect the seed from other decay organisms in the field. However, once the seed coat is compromised, decay is rapid.
How deep does velvetleaf emerge?
Velvetleaf emerges from soil depths of up to 2 inches. If seed germinates on the soil surface, it dies. Therefore, leaving seed lying on the soil surface reduces survival.
How many seeds does a velvetleaf plant produce?
Plants produce about 70 to 200 seed capsules per plant, and each capsule contains 35-45 seeds. Dispersal Mechanisms: None. Longevity: Velvetleaf has limited persistence in the upper portion of the soil profile because it takes only 2 years for the seedbank to be reduced by 50% and about 16 years to deplete it by 99%.
Does night tillage help velvetleaf?
Tillage: Night tillage has no effect on velvetleaf emergence. Velvetleaf becomes less of a problem in no-till systems because the seed germinates on the soil surface and the seedlings do not survive. Rotary hoeing: Hoeing is successful if the velvetleaf plants are less then 1/4" in height.
Does velvetleaf seed persist?
However, when velvetleaf seed is buried deep in the soil profile by plowing, the seed persists longer. Dormancy: Velvetleaf dormancy is greater deeper in the soil profile.
What is the origin of velvet leaf?
Velvet Leaf Quick Facts. Name: Velvet Leaf. Scientific Name: Abutilon theophrasti Medik. Origin. Mediterranean or to a wider area including temperate Asian and European countries. Colors. Initially light green, but rather quickly turns brown or black as they matures.
What is velvet leaf used for?
Traditional uses and benefits of Velvet Leaf. It is used in the treatment of dysentery and opacity of the cornea. Leaves consist of 0.01% rutin and are used as a demulcent. Tea made from the dried leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery and fevers. Poultice of the leaves is applied to ulcers.
How tall do velvet leaf plants grow?
Velvet Leaf is an erect, herbaceous, annual sub shrub-like herb that grows up to 8 feet tall, but most plants are in the 2-4 foot tall range. The plant is found growing in wasteland, vacant lots, gardens and cultivated fields, especially maize and soybean fields, along fence rows, abandoned fields, construction sites, roadsides, ditches, hillside slopes, riverbanks, disturbed areas, and crop fields. Normally the plant prefers sandy, loamy and clay soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant has erect stems that are much branched in the upper part. The surface of the stem is smooth with short velvety hairs. The stem and twigs are covered with fine hairs.
How to take care of black velvet?
Take your Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ from its pot and gently shake off the extra soil around the roots. At this point, you should take the opportunity to check the root system of the mother plant is in good condition and not showing any signs of fungal infections or entanglement. Next, inspect the rhizome system.
What is black velvet?
The Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ – known also as the Alocasia Reginula – is a miniature Alocasia known for its stunning foliage. It gets its name from the dark velvety appearance of the leaves, which are offset by the striking white veins. Like many variants of Alocasia, the ‘Black Velvet’ needs a special care regimen, ...
Why do Alocasia leaves turn purple?
So dark they are almost purple, the leaves are the key feature. So flowering is usually a side event, and the flower is usually unspectacular anyway. Many Alocasia owners remove the flower at the first sign, as it can cause the plant to divert energy from the leaves for a while.
How to grow Alocasia black velvet?
Make your own mix to suit your Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ by combining standard potting soil with peat or sand.
What temperature does black velvet need?
Temperature. The Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ craves warmth, especially in the summer months. So, temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal. In the summer, it really wants to be in an environment that approaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the humidity of black velvet?
This is a tropical plant, at home in the rainforests, and so it requires high levels of humidity. This means, levels that are at least 60%, but ideally the plant is most comfortable at around 70% humidity.
Can you propagate black velvet from seeds?
It is also possible to propagate the Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ from seeds, however this is a slow process. The rhizome splitting method will give you faster results. To begin, ensure it is the right time for propagation. Doing it in the winter, when the plant is dormant, will not bring any success. Wait until spring is showing its first signs, then ...
What is a velvetleaf?
Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti. Written by susan.mahr. Velvetleaf is a tall, distinctive plant. Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti, is a common weed in agricultural fields, but also occurs in gardens and in disturbed sites, such as along roadsides and beside railroad tracks, throughout much of the U.S., and parts of Wisconsin.
Why do Chinese use velvetleaf?
The Chinese also used the plant for medicinal purposes to treat fever, dysentery, stomachaches and other problems. Velvetleaf seedling. Velvetleaf typically occurs where the soil has been recently disturbed and the long dormant seeds are brought close to the soil surface. Seeds sprout anytime the soil is warm enough.
Is velvetleaf a problem?
It is a particular problem in corn and soybean files in the eastern and midwestern U.S., costing hundreds of millions of dollars per year in control and damage. Velvetleaf is an extremely competitive plant, stealing nutrients and water away from crops, thereby significantly reducing yields.
How to manage velvetleaf?
As most velvetleaf emerge in the spring season, one method of management of this weed is delating planting or rotating to a summer plants crop to eliminate seedlings through tillage and reduce the density of the crop presence . In addition, considering the weed does not begin setting seeds until late summer, early harvest crops work well to interrupt the velvetleaf’s life cycle. Planting spring or early summer row crops instigates worthy competition with the weed to reduce velvetleaf’s branching and seed production.
How big are velvetleaf leaves?
Leaves: Leaves of the mature plant are alternate and large (5-7″/10-15cm long and wide), with a petiole about as long as the leaf. They are densely hairy, very soft (hence the common name velvetleaf), heart-shaped with a sharp tip and finely toothed margins, and have palmate (fanning out from the leaf base), branching veins.
Why do you delay fall tillage in fields with velvetleaf seed production?
Seeds left on the soil surface are vulnerable to predation and dessication, so delaying fall tillage in fields with a lot of velvetleaf seed production can reduce the number of seeds that wind up in the seed bank.
Which university has velvetleaf?
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Horticulture extension program has a good velvetleaf profile, with a thoughtful discussion of seed longevity and predation.
Can velvetleaf be suppressed?
Although velvetleaf is capable of emerging through thick layers of mulch material, the weed has been successfully be suppressed when soybeans are sowed into a no-till rye cover crop.

Legal Status
Identification
Biology and Reproduction
- Velvetleaf is a summer annual that reproduces by seed. It is self-pollinating so it doesn't require pollinators to set seed. One plant can produce up to 17,000 seeds and seeds can remain viable in the soil for 50 to 60 years. Seedlings are vigorous and fast-growing and emerge at variable times. The plant grows rapidly to maturity with new flowers appearing every two days.
Habitat and Impacts
- Velvetleaf was originally introduced to North America from southern Asia in the mid-1700's as a potential fiber crop. It didn't succeed as a fiber source, but it has become a significant weed of a wide range of crops. It can be found in orchards, vineyards, crop fields, nursery fields, gardens, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. It is found throughout North America, although it is still un…
Control
- Prevention and Small Patches: Velvetleaf is a large, conspicuous plant when it is flowering, so it is not difficult to spot it in the summer months. Also, single plants can be easily pulled or dug up before they go to seed, so early detection and rapid response is not difficult with this weed. However, because seeds can remain viable in the soil fo...
Additional Information on Velvetleaf
What to Do If You Find This Plant in King County, Washington
- Please notify us if you see velvetleaf growing in King County. Our program staff can provide the property owner or appropriate public agency with site-specific advice on how best to remove it. Also, because velvetleaf is not established in King County, we have an opportunity to stop it from spreading if we act quickly. We map all known locations of regulated noxious weeds such as vel…