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Publication #ENH1127

Florida Betony Biology and Management in Turf1

J. Bryan Unruh, Darcy E. Partridge-Telenko, and Barry J. Brecke2

Florida betony (Stachys floridana) is a perennial broadleaf. It is sometimes called rattlesnake weed because its underground stems produce fleshy, white, segmented tubers that resemble a rattlesnake’s rattle. A branched, erect stem is produced from thin, white underground runners and the fleshy tubers. Leaves are opposite, simple, shovel-shaped, toothed and long stalked. Pinkish-purple flowers produce fruit composed of four nutlets. Reproduction occurs primarily through the tubers. Florida betony is native to Florida and was confined to Florida until it escaped in the 1940s or 1950s in nursery stock and is now found from Texas to North Carolina.

Figure 1. 

Figure 2. 

Herbicide options for controlling Florida betony in Florida turfgrass

(Always refer to the label for specific uses, application rates and turfgrass tolerance)

Figure 3. 

Bermudagrass

  • Preemergence: none

  • Postemergence: 2,4-D, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, foramsulfuron, metsulfuron, triclopyr+clopyralid, trifloxysulfuron

St. Augustinegrass

  • Preemergence: atrazine

  • Postemergence: atrazine, 2,4-D, dicamba, metsulfuron

Centipedegrass

  • Preemergence: atrazine

  • Postemergence: atrazine, 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr+clopyralid

Bahiagrass

  • Preemergence: none

  • Postemergence: 2,4-D, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, triclopyr+clopyralid

Seashore paspalum

  • Preemergence: none

  • Postemergence: none

Zoysiagrass

  • Preemergence: atrazine

  • Postemergence: atrazine, 2,4-D, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, foramsulfuron, metsulfuron, triclopyr+clopyralid, trifloxysulfuron

Perennial ryegrass

  • Preemergence: none

  • Postemergence: 2,4-D, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, triclopyr+clopyralid

Refer to the publication Pest Control Guide for Turfgrass Management at http://turf.ufl.edu for brand names associated with chemical names listed.

Footnotes

1.

This document is ENH1127, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date, June 2009. Adapted from: Tim R. Murphy, Daniel L. Colvin, Ray Dickens, John W. Everest, David Hall, and L.B. McCarty. Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses. University of Florida, 1992. Visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

J. Bryan Unruh, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Darcy E. Partridge-Telenko, postdoctoral research associate; and Barry J. Brecke, professor, Agronomy Department; West Florida Research and Education Center, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.