Field Facts: Velvetleaf
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Velvetleaf is a summer annual weed found in corn and soybean fields across the Midwest. Under the right conditions, velvetleaf can cause up to 34% yield loss in corn and up to 40% yield loss in soybeans.1,2 At this time, herbicide-resistant velvetleaf is recorded in four states: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- Common names: Velvetleaf, buttonweed, butterprint, elephant ears
- Scientific name: Abutilon theophrasti
- Cotyledons: One heart-shaped cotyledon and one round cotyledon
- Leaf shape: Heart-shaped in an alternating pattern
- Stems: Covered in short, dense soft hairs
- Flowers: Yellow with five petals
Fast Facts
- Native to China, velvetleaf was grown as a fiber crop and was brought to North America in the 1600s for the same purpose.
- Velvetleaf is one of the taller weed species. The average velvetleaf plant ranges 2 to 4 feet tall, with some plants reaching up to 8 feet tall.
- One velvetleaf plant can produce up to 9,000 seeds. Seeds are encased in hard-shelled capsules. These capsules protect velvetleaf seeds, making them very persistent in the seedbank.1
- Velvetleaf thrives in compacted soil rich with nitrogen and with a high pH.
- According to the International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database, four states have recorded populations of atrazine-resistant velvetleaf.
- Although no confirmed populations of glyphosate-resistant velvetleaf have been documented, the prevalence of velvetleaf in soybean fields treated with Roundup Ready® and anecdotal observations suggest velvetleaf populations are not always effectively controlled with glyphosate.1
Control Tips
- A strong weed control herbicide program can be effective against velvetleaf. Customers should use a program approach that includes preemergence and postemergence applications with multiple modes of action and residual activity.
- Note: The effectiveness of herbicides is often based on weed size. Ensure customers are spraying when weeds are less than 6 inches tall; and using full herbicide rates.
- In addition to a herbicide program, consider the following mechanical and cultural practices to control velvetleaf:1
- Altering planting date relative to weed emergence
- Planting soybeans in narrow rows
- Using higher seeding rates
- Rotary hoeing, which can be successful if plants are less than ¼ inch in height
- Crop rotation is a recommended practice for controlling velvetleaf long-term. Small grains and forages often make good rotational crops.
1 United Soybean Board. 2024. Velvetleaf. https://iwilltakeaction.com/weeds/identification/velvetleaf/
2 Michigan State University, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences. Velvetleaf. https://www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/velvetleaf
Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark of Bayer Group. Always read and follow label directions.