Ag Line: Florida Betony Control
By Wade Parker

of Florida betony look like rattles of a rattlesnake.

The past few weeks have been a very busy time for weed control in lawns. Not only are dandelions and annual bluegrass major problems, but Florida betony is getting worse each year in passing. Florida betony is often referred to as rattlesnake weed or wild artichoke. Florida betony has a tendency to spread very fast and is very hard to control.

Because of its name, many people think Florida betony escaped its Florida borders to become a problem weed in turf and ornamentals from North Carolina to Texas. Actually, we're not 100 percent certain of the plant's origin. Wherever it came from, it's hard to control in your yard and garden.

Florida betony is a winter perennial. Like most plants in the Labiatae family, it has a square stem with aromatic, opposite leaves. Sometimes called Florida hedgenettle, its flowers are usually pink and have a classic mint-like structure.

Unlike its relatives, Florida betony produces unique tubers that look like the rattles of a rattlesnake, giving it the "rattlesnake weed" name by which it's sometimes known. Products containing the active Have a rattle? These "rattlesnake" tubers can grow to more than 3 feet long in soils with a high sand content. Many people relish them for their crisp, succulent flavor. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll be figuring out how to grow Florida betony instead of killing it.

Florida betony is dormant during the hot, humid summers of the South. In most of Georgia, it starts growing in early to mid fall, slows in the extreme cold of winter and continues until late spring.

We don't have a lot of information on controlling betony. In turfgrass, though, products containing atrazine, 2,4-D, dicamba or mecoprop provide good selective control.

Ornamental choices

In ornamentals, dichlobenil (sold under the trade name Casoron) provides excellent control of Florida betony in select established woody ornamentals. ingredient glyphosate, such as Roundup, can provide some control if sprayed or applied directly to the betony without contacting desirable plants.

Consider using glyphosate if you're going to put new ornamental plants in an area containing betony. Spray a 5 percent solution of glyphosate, using a product that's 41 percent glyphosate or greater, one week before you cultivate the area. Repeat applications to eliminate survivors will be necessary.

All of these products work well if you use them according to their labels. If you prefer the non-chemical route, maintaining a good 4- to 6-inch layer of pine bark or pine straw should eventually smother the betony.

Florida betony is a very difficult weed to control and it takes persistence to gain the upper hand. Homeowners do not need to get discouraged when betony does not die immediTubers ately. It just takes time!