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Mulberry Weed, Hairy Crabweed

Fatoua villosa (Thunb.) Nakai

Moraceae (Fig Family)

▲ seedling

mature plants ▲ ▼

flower clusters in leaf axils ▲ ▼

▲ young plant with flower clusters in leaf axils

▲ flower cluster

Mulberry Weed:

relatively new weed to U.S., (from Asia) but rapidly spreading--not particularly harmful, so far
alternate, heart-shaped to triangular leaves with slightly crenate (scalloped) margins
leaves and stems are hairy
looks very much like a young white mulberry seedling, but is hairy (white mulberry is not)
grows 6-30" tall in a pyramidal, branched shape in full to near full sun, but often less branched and lanky in shaded sites
flowers are in purplish-green rounded clusters in axils of leaves; starts flowering after 2-3 leaves formed
prefers moist, fertile soils; has spread with landscape/nursery plants
shade tolerance and abundant seed formation may make it a potential woodland invader, but it seems to prefer disturbed soils for establishment