Clint Waltz, a turfgrass specialist with the UGA Cooperative Extension, spoke with Southern Living about skyseed, or Chevreul’s sharp lawn weed.
“We suspect it’s more widespread than what’s been reported because little is known about this weed and it’s often misidentified,” Waltz said.
Uncontrolled, skyseed (Chevreulia acuminata) forms a low-growing mat that can predominate the turfgrass. But it can be hard to miss because it stays below the canopy of the grass until its seedheads appear. Once the tall, white flowers pop up in mid to late spring they are conspicuous in an expanse of lawn, says Waltz.
“It should be easy to control, but we don’t know for sure because it is a perennial,” Waltz said. “As a scientist, I believe we should prevent the spread because we’re not sure about its long-term effects on the ecosystem. Getting it early is prudent.”