Common Ragweed

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plants with varying degrees of lobing on leaves

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ immature plants

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ inflorescences

▲ close-up of pollen in male flowers

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Common Ragweed: (Bayer Code: AMBEL; US Code AMAR2)

Is a much-branched summer annual weed with finely divided (fernlike leaves) (2-4' tall), shorter in poorer growing conditions
Small, spike-like inflorescence at tips of branches, abundant wind-borne pollen
Often a first-year invader weed to newly abandoned fields
Fast-growing, aggressive competitor in agronomic, vegetable crops
good source of food and cover for wild birds (quail)

(Updated January 19, 2019)