A weed called smartweed

By Aaron Horrell

Hundreds of different kinds of smartweed plants grow wild on most continents of the world. Some can grow several feet tall. Some grow only a few inches.

Smartweed also is known as redshank and lady's thumb.

Differing leaf sizes, stem color and length, as well as variations in bloom color, make various kinds of smartweed difficult to distinguish.

The easiest kinds of smartweed to find in Southeast Missouri are the ones that bloom pink.

As my photo shows, many small pink blossoms surround the end of the stem, forming a seed head. Smartweed has a long blooming season.

Some kinds grow well in wet areas. Other smartweed does well in dry areas. This may be the reason it is called "smart."

You may see patches of very short smartweed blooming in your yard even though you just mowed the grass.