Fireweed, also called American Burnweed, Erechtite hieracifolia, wickup, rosebay willowherb, or giant willowherb, seems to have a lot of names for such a weedy little plant. It’s a broadleaf weed that shows up mostly in the early spring in April, before lawns are completely greened-up and before regular mowing schedules are underway.
Fireweed produces small white or greenish flowers that go to seed, somewhat like dandelion puffs. These seeds blow around and land in your lawn and take root in the thatch layer, not in the soil. We see the worst problems (in our service area) all over Arkansas, and also in Memphis, Birmingham, and Huntsville, AL. Unfortunately, there is no pre-emergent to prevent it.
Fireweed can appear in such profuse infestations that it looks like it could take over the entire lawn with its big, wide leaves. It also thrives in empty lots, pastures and abandoned fields, but only because there is no turf. In a well-tended lawn, it will die out as the summer heat sets in and the homeowner begins mowing regularly. High temperatures cause it to dry up since it isn’t rooted properly, and fireweed also pulls up easily since the roots don’t go below the thatch layer of the grass. Before the hot weather comes along, a good post-emergent broadleaf weed control will kill it.