Origin
Central and South America
Ecological Impact
Forms dense thickets which invades agricultural areas, roadsides, trails, along streams, and other disturbed sites. Can crowd out native plant species. Listed as a Category II invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC).
Description
Wedelia is a mat forming perennial herb with rounded stems. Leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 5 inches wide, with irregularly toothed margins. Flowers are yellow-orange in color with 8-13 florets, forming solitary heads near the stem tips (Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, IFAS). Recently renamed from Wedelia trilobata to Sphagneticola trilobata.
Identification Tips
Look for yellow-orange flowers on hairy stems.
History
Introduced to Florida in the early 1900s.
Florida Range
Found throughout the state of Florida, mainly central and southern.
Prevention/Management Strategies
Do not plant in the landscape and remove existing plants by the root.