Master Gardener^sm Column for the Week of September 12, 2005
Charlie Spencer
Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener^sm Volunteer

This monster weed that a lot of folks call rattlesnake weed is officially known as Florida betony. I would like to cuss and fuss at Floridians for harboring such an evil thing, but the evidence that the weed migrated from Florida to here has not been proven. Anyway, wherever it came from I wish it would go back. What we do know is that it is a real BEAR to control!

Now for the good news. Florida betony is a winter perennial. It has a square stem with aromatic opposite leaves. The flowers are pink and have a mint-like structure. Now for the really good part. It produces unusual tubers that look like white rattles if a rattlesnake’s rattles were white! Hence the name rattlesnake weed. Some of these tubers can grow up to three feet in length if grown in sandy soil. Are you ready? Many folks really, really like to eat these tubers. The taste and texture is described as crisp and succulent! Who knows, maybe rattlesnake weed will someday be the replacement for tobacco! Yum, yum!

For those of you who would like to remove it from your area, the following should be of some help.

Florida betony is dormant during the hot, humid summers of the South. In most of North Carolina it starts growing in early to mid-fall, slows in the extreme cold of winter, and continues until late spring. There is not a lot of information on controlling betony. In turfgrass, though, products containing atrazine; 2, 4-D; dicamba, or mecoprop provide good selective control.

In ornamentals, dichlobenil, sold under the trade name Casoron, provides excellent control of Florida betony in select established woody ornamentals. Products containing the active 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 nonchemical route, maintaining a good 4- to 6-inch layer of pine bark or pine straw should eventually smother the betony.

Many new herbicides have been introduced to the turfgrass market. Preliminary testing has shown that some provide excellent control of Florida betony. In 2004 and 2005, the University of Georgia ran trials in several places with heavy Florida betony infestations. The sites averaged 41 betony shoots per square foot during both years. In these tests, these herbicides provided greater than 70 percent control two months after being applied: Monument (trifloxysulfuron), Manor (metsulfuron), Revolver (foramsulfuron), and Speedzone (carfentrazone,; 2, 4-D Ester, mecoprop, and dicamba). Unfortunately, all of these products are labeled only for use in turfgrass. For now, frustrated gardeners will still have to rely on hand pulling, mulch, Casoron, and glyphosate to keep this weedy menace at bay in your ornamental beds.

Anyone for some fresh betony tubers in your salad?

Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this article as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, or the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

Send your gardening questions or comments to: Brunswick County Master Gardener Column, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422, or call (910) 253-2610. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting information or a reply. Answers may be printed in this column.

For further information or assistance, please e-mail:
Charlie Spencer, Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener^smVolunteer

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Date Created 9/16/2005