August 02, 2021
36 Kinds of Flowering Weeds + Tips on Finding Beauty in Unlikely Places
Flowers bring beauty, color and joy into our lives and ordering a bouquet for a special someone can brighten their mood for days. Weeds, on the other hand, have a bad reputation for being unattractive and uninvited guests. It may surprise you to learn just how many beautiful flowering weeds exist under your nose.
Kids are often taught to smile because it takes more muscles to form a frown, while a smile is seemingly effortless. Smiling can also put a positive spin on any situation — a sort of built-in silver lining. Flowering weeds offer you an opportunity to find beauty in the unexpected. To celebrate that, we gathered tips from behavioral experts on staying positive in any kind of situation. But first learn all about flowering weeds and the beauty they bring to gardens everywhere.
Where Do Flowering Weeds Grow?
No matter where you live, weeds are a constant presence. Some weeds thrive in fertile, damp soil while others need dry, hot sunlight to sprout. Flowering weeds are no exception. You might see a dandelion spring through a tight crack in your concrete patio or a bindweed vine spiral up your gutters.
Some weeds are invasive species that are harmful to other plants, and even pets and humans. However, many are beneficial weeds that are helpful to gardens, or even edible.
Flowering weeds benefit pollinators like bees, ensuring they spread beauty to a meadow nearby. Weeds in your yard thrive in the climate you live in, meaning they make sustainable choices for natural landscaping. Noticing the variety of weeds with colorful flowers can quickly remind you that beauty often grows in unexpected places.
36 Weeds That Look Like Flowers
Weeds grow in all sorts of patterns: in mats, on vines, up stalks and in bunches. Each weed has a special beauty all its own, as long as it coexists with the rest of the plants in your garden. Not every weed knows how to play nice with others. Some are even poisonous to animals and humans.
By most accounts, weeds are just uninvited plants. The definition of a weed notes that it’s an especially vigorous plant that could choke out other desirable plants in your garden. Suffice to say that a weed might be by definition a weed, but that doesn’t mean it’s undesirable in every garden.
Common flowering weeds feature blossoms in shades of purple, white, yellow, blue and red. You’re likely to see all the colors of the rainbow if you look at a field of wildflowers — and many wildflowers are weeds, too. We’ll introduce you to several below in our list of 36 different types of flowering weeds you might discover in your backyard.
Weeds With Red or Pink Flowers
Red and pink flowers convey romantic messages, but they can also lend a fun, tropical style to a backyard garden. The plants below vary in size, but each pack a visual punch.
1. Oleander
Oleander sports beautiful, delicate-looking flowers in groups of five or six. Colors can vary, but the most common is a salmon-hued pinkish red. It’s a woody shrub that’s hardy, but also poisonous to humans and animals. Be careful when Fido’s out in the yard!
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 8 feet high
2. Red Clover
Red clover doesn’t have the pleasant aroma of its sweet yellow cousin, nor does it grow as aggressively as white clover. It’s the neutral clover that just enriches the soil with nitrogen, nothing more.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 2 feet or higher
3. Self-Heal
The roots of the common self-heal spread very wide, so digging it up is a monumental effort. Either leave it to proliferate or consider a professional landscaper to deal with the infestation.
Likes: Sun or partial shade
Grows: 2 feet high
4. Spear Thistle
Like other thistle varieties, the spear thistle is capable of stinging or giving a rash to anyone who tries to uproot it. Wear thick, protective gardening gloves to prevent any uncovered skin from coming into contact with this plant.
Likes: Sun or partial shade
Grows: 3 feet high
Weeds With Yellow Flowers
Optimism is sometimes referred to as a sunny disposition, and sunny is exactly the feeling yellow flowers convey. They complement warm colors in summer and fall arrangements, and stand out among cool colors in spring bouquets. These 10 types of yellow flowers that look like weeds are sure to bring a smile to your face.
5. Black Medic
This hardy plant is one of few that appreciates arid, dry soil. One of the best ways to combat its growth is to keep your gardens and flower beds healthy. You can fertilize with compost in order to keep the soil rich and fertile.
Likes: Full sun and poor soil
Grows: 2 feet high
6. Creeping Buttercup
Likely taking over a grass field near you, creeping buttercup is an extremely aggressive weed. Its leaves are toxic to grazing animals, which is problematic since it can overtake grazing grasses and leave nothing left to feed on.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 6 inches high
7. Dandelion
Dandelion flowers precede the fluffy, white seed pods that are famous for granting wishes. These bright flowers are extremely common in large, open fields with lots of sunlight. They make sunny adornments to last-minute gifts.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 12 inches high
8. Oxalis
Oxalis is an edible weed that can be consumed in a variety of ways. Some oxalis plants even grow tubers that are sold as yams in places like New Zealand. So if you’re looking for a unique, edible addition to your garden, oxalis is it!
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 20 inches high
9. Purslane
The leaves of purslane are commonly cooked and eaten. Purslane is also a substitute for spinach and lettuce, and is a good source of magnesium and vitamins A and C.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 6 inches high
10. Sunflower
Sunflowers are a fixture in celebratory bouquets for the warmth and happiness they convey. In your garden, however, they’re selfish — they’re capable of halting growth of plants around them while they race to capture the sunlight, which makes sunflowers a type of weed.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 15 feet high
11. Velvetleaf
Velvetleaf vines have been cultivated for thousands of years. Its fibrous makeup forms the basis of some ropes, cloths and nets, and it can be cooked into dishes or consumed raw.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 6 feet high
12. Yellow Archangel
Yellow archangel, or common nettle, has goldenrod blooms that cluster closely together. Be sure to wear gloves when rooting up this plant, as leaves and stalks can grow prickly hairs that sting your skin.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 6 feet high
13. Yellow Salsify
Due to its distinctive whisker-like shape, salsify is commonly called goat’s beard. The widespread flower can be found mostly in hot, sun-drenched regions, and is edible raw or cooked.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 3 feet high
14. Yellow Sweet Clover
Fragrant with a sweet, buttery odor, the yellow sweet clover makes any yard or garden feel like spring.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 3 feet high
Weeds With Blue Flowers
Blue flowering weeds are far less common than other colors, but they’re no less striking. Blue flowers represent mystery and uniqueness, two intriguing qualities to add to your backyard landscape.
15. Dayflower
This grassy annual grows quickly, sprouting two cornflower-blue petals with a smaller white petal. It’s known to exclude other plants if allowed to grow in a tight cluster, so be extra careful if it sprouts up in a cramped garden.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 2 feet or higher
Weeds With Purple Flowers
If you give someone purple flowers, it might be to express how you felt love at first sight when you met them. Maybe it’s to show that they’re royalty to you. Purple is a complex and beautiful color that’s found frequently among flowering weeds, including the seven examples below.
16. Belladonna
Also known as deadly nightshade, this bushy, flowering, broadleaf annual plant is extremely poisonous if ingested. However, belladonna also lends healing powers to ointments and medications to treat a wide variety of ailments.
Likes: Damp shade
Grows: 4 feet high
17. Canada Thistle
This perennial can be difficult to kick to the curb. Its root system is large and expansive and must be entirely removed, or else Canada thistle will grow right back.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 6 feet high
18. Creeping Charlie
Sometimes a name is just for show, but other times it’s a perfect fit. Creeping Charlie indeed creeps across the ground, growing in a thick mat that can be tough to uproot.
Likes: Partial shade
Grows: 4 inches high
19. Henbit
Henbit is an edible weed that produces purple flowers not unlike an orchid’s, although smaller. Each plant is capable of producing 2,000 or more seeds, resulting in a fast spread rate.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 12 inches high
20. Joe Pye Weed
Native to eastern North America, Joe Pye grows quickly and grows tall. The plant is sweetly fragrant and attracts pollinators, making it an excellent addition to a natural backyard landscape.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 6 feet high
21. Musk Thistle
Thistle plants can grow quite high, blocking shade from other plants if they sprout near a garden or a flower bed. If you root them up by hand, wear gloves to protect yourself from the musk thistle’s prickly leaves and stems.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 6 feet high
22. Wild Violet
Violet grows naturally in several patterns, like the freckled violet that appears to feature a splatter of purple paint, or the confederate violet that blends purple with red, yellow or blue. Since you can often find it at nurseries, you might not know it’s a weed. However, it grows vigorously and can take over a garden in weeks.
Likes: Full shade
Grows: 6 inches high
Weeds With White Flowers
White often symbolizes fidelity that is honest and pure. Sending white flowers is a way to express commitment to the recipient. Not all of these flowers are bouquet-ready, though; in fact, some are quite poisonous. Look out for these white flowering weeds next time you step out in the yard.
23. Bindweed
Bindweed grows quickly as a twin vine climbing wherever it can find a spot to latch. Flowers are often white, but can vary in shades of violet and pink.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 6 feet or higher
24. Chickweed
Found in common and mouse-ear (rounded) varieties, chickweed is a quick-growing, flowering plant that loves nutrient-rich soil. You won’t often find it in dry, arid environments.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 6 inches high
25. Daisy
There’s a chance that the last flower arrangement you saw had daisies in it. They’re the official birth flower for April birthdays, and there’s even a National Daisy Day to celebrate this popular flower. However, they’re also one of the most common perennial weeds you’ll find anywhere, sprouting in fields, forests, gardens, and landscapes.
Likes: Sun or partial shade
Grows: 2 feet high
26. Fleabane
Fleabane, originally believed to rid homes of fleas, is related to the daisy. While it doesn’t actually function as an insecticide, the countless blooms on a full-grown plant could brighten any room.
Likes: Sun or partial shade
Grows: 2 feet high
27. Garlic Mustard
The strangely apt name of this flowering weed comes from its usage as a food additive. The flowers have a pungent odor but produce the flavor of garlic and mustard when cooked in a dish.
Likes: Damp shade
Grows: 3 feet high
28. Giant Hogweed
Truly giant, this weed was often grown ornamentally when first introduced in the U.S. It’s painful to the touch and can burn or irritate skin, so it’s best to call for professional backup if you need to remove one.
Likes: Partial shade
Grows: 15 feet high
29. Japanese Knotweed
Knots can be difficult to untie, and Japanese knotweed certainly lives up to its name. It’s sometimes called Japanese bamboo because its thick stalks and heavy foliage are ideal for privacy. It roots deeply and is almost impossible to eradicate completely.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 15 feet high
30. Jimson Weed
Also called devil’s snare, this striking flower poses a threat to animals and humans who ingest it. Stick to appreciating it from afar, or cut it down to prevent spread.
Likes: Sun or partial shade
Grows: 6 feet or higher
31. Meadow Death Camas
If the death camas looks familiar, that’s because it’s a part of the lily family. This lily takes its name literally, as it is dangerous for humans to touch or ingest. If you see it, it’s best to call a professional to remove it rather than risk injury.
Likes: Partial shade
Grows: 3 feet high
32. Pokeweed
Pokeweed is a contradictory plant. Its beauty and dark, purple berries forewarn that it’s poisonous. However, its leaves are also used as cooking ingredients — if prepared safely and correctly!
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 10 feet high
33. Poison Ivy
Hopefully you’re not familiar with this plant because of a past experience. Poison ivy causes an allergic reaction in most people who touch it — and those who do often don’t stay long enough to notice the small, white flowers blooming among the dangerous leaves.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 15 feet high
34. Quickweed
Common quickweed is actually a type of daisy, but it differs visually from its larger-petaled cousins. Quickweed has tiny, one-quarter-inch blossoms with even tinier white petals.
Likes: Full sun
Grows: 2 feet high
35. Water Hemlock
According to the USDA, the water hemlock is the “most violently toxic plant that grows in North America.” It’s also quite beautiful, featuring delicate clusters of white blooms atop long stalks.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 8 feet high
36. White Clover
Clover is a nitrogen-fixer, meaning it can boost the nitrogen content of the soil it roots in. It’s a great growing partner to seasonal grasses like wheat or oats. The flowers draw nitrogen from the air, where it is then stored in the plant's roots. For this reason, it’s a wonderful natural ground cover for nutrient-deficient flower beds.
Likes: Sun or shade
Grows: 12 inches high
Creative Uses for Weeds That Look Like Flowers
Just because a plant is growing in an unexpected space doesn’t mean it’s useless or even harmful. Part of the unlikely beauty that flowering lawn weeds offer is their familiar feel. Most everyone is familiar with daisies, sunflowers or clovers; not everyone is used to taking advantage of all they have to offer.
To find beauty in unlikely places, consider how a flower affects others. Not only does it offer those who see it a glimpse of beauty, but it might feed pollinators, boost the soil or even aid neighboring plants in their growth. These creative uses for flowering weeds can get you thinking about changing your tune on common weeds.
Garden Growth Hacks
Some plants, like clover, are nitrogen-fixers that trap the element in their roots to benefit the soil around them. Others benefit so-called “companion plants” by changing the chemical makeup of the soil, like sunflowers do for cucumbers.
Keeping weeds in a vegetable garden could stimulate growth for other delicious plants throughout the year. See some plant pals perfect for your garden below:
Sunflowers + cucumbers
Purslane + basil
Daisies + celery
Native Landscapes
Weeds are commonly native species, and are almost always adapted for the climate. That makes flowering weeds a sustainable choice for your garden that will live on without replanting season after season. Native plants require less care (like watering) and put less strain on the environment, meaning you can sleep tight knowing your garden is beautiful and eco-friendly.
Mow-Free Yards
We’ve already mentioned clover’s nitrogen-friendly properties. This also makes it a great choice for lawn cover, as it won’t grow as high as grass and will ensure the rest of your soil is healthy for new flower beds. Try planting a variety of red and white clovers to create a lush, pillow-like appearance in your garden that will go with almost any landscaping.
Bouquet Boosters
Play on the familiarity of common weeds that look like flowers by using them as additives to bouquets. Chickweed brings a fascinating shape and unique petals to any arrangement, while yellow sweet clover introduces a mellow, pleasant aroma. You can always grab a few blooms from the garden to personalize any flower arrangement you purchase.
How To Find Beauty in Unlikely Places
It’s no secret that we all need a little inspiration from time to time. It’s one of the reasons that we love to go to the movies with a friend, enjoy a meal with a companion or receive and send gift baskets. We appreciate the unexpected beauty and happiness that these actions create.
When you have trouble finding optimism throughout your day, look to the following advice on staying positive. As flowering weeds can teach you, it’s possible to find beauty everywhere if you know what to look for.
Face Your Emotions With Grace
Just like any varietal garden, we’re made up of many different parts. We’re complex beings that exhibit many different feelings and emotions. Allow yourself to feel these feelings, but don’t be hard on yourself just because you feel them, says Julie Leonard, happiness evangelist and life coach.
“Cultivating a practice of self-compassion helps you identify your negative thoughts and replace them with words of kindness. It also helps to recognize that we are all human and that nobody and nothing is perfect,” says Leonard.
Exercise to try: Follow the leader in a guided meditation. Leonard says participants in her self-compassion course scored higher after just three weeks of five-minute daily meditation sessions.
Train Yourself To See the Bright Side
If you ask Dr. Wyatt Fisher, he’ll tell you that optimism doesn’t come naturally to many people. The licensed psychologist and relationship coach says, “People naturally look for the bad in life. Therefore, it requires intentional effort to notice the good.” This means training yourself to notice both sides of a given situation.
Exercise to try: Express your thoughts in a gratitude journal. Dr. Fisher says this is the best way to learn optimism, forcing you to “continually capture the good in life and ... start your day with hope and positivity.”
Open Your Mind to New Possibilities
It’s not uncommon for people to feel trapped in some way by their routines. If you’re looking for a bright side but just can’t find it, maybe it’s time to try a new way of thinking.
“Can you really get someone to see something that they don’t want to? No, you can’t,” explains Justin Baksh, LMHC, MCAP with Foundations Wellness Center. “The first step is to challenge [yourself] to be open ... Provide rebuttal as to why it’s not beneficial to change [your] perspective.” Challenging your own opinions can cause you to think differently and see new points of view.
“Most of us are unaware of our own programming involved with our core belief system,” says Baksh.
Exercise to try: Tell yourself you’re wrong. Notice when you push for things you’re unsure of, and remember that feeling. Accept that changing your mind is a strength, not a weakness.
Use your newfound open-mindedness to refocus your gaze on the weeds in your yard. Do you see weeds, or do you see blossoming flowers that add color to your garden? If the answer is still weeds, that’s OK. However, science tells us that focusing on the flowers might be a better outlook for health and longevity.
Flowering weeds aren’t always pretty yard ornaments; oftentimes, they’re aggressive, invasive and even dangerous. You should always attempt to learn what you can about a plant before dealing with it, or call a professional. If the weed isn’t dangerous, though, consider using it to boost your garden’s health or aesthetic. Your garden is sure to appreciate your newly optimistic attitude.
