Hairy Galinsoga

Hairy Galinsoga, Fringed Quickweed

Galinsoga quadriradiata Cav.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young, mature plants

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ ▼ flowers

Galinsoga quadriradiata Cav., Hairy Galinsoga, Fringed Quickweed, Shaggy Soldier, Peruvian Daisy, : (Bayer Code: GASCI; US Code GAQU)

South American summer weed that grows 4-24 inches tall; stems are much branched, covered with outspread white hairs
Leaves are opposite, triangular to broad-lanceolate, with hairs on both sides and around the toothed (or smooth) margins
Flowers about 1/8-1/4 inch diameter, with usually 5 white (occasionally pink), ray flowers (“petals") with 3 lobes, and 15-35 yellow disk flowers
Bracts below inflorescence are in 2-3 rows and fall off the inflorescence after flowering
Prefers good fertility, moist, well-drained soils; found in horticultural crops, row crops, pastures, non-crop areas; can produce multiple-generations of plants per growing season, and abundant seed per plant--once it goes to seed at a site, it will return for several years, even with good control of existing plants
Very similar Small-Flowered Galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora) can be distinguished by often having slightly smaller or narrower, nearly hairless leaves (except on leaf margins and vein undersides), less hairy stems, and the bracts below the inflorescence persist as the seed matures; plus some of the ray flowers may be 2-lobed