Plant Profile: Crassocephalum crepidioides

Thickhead, a member of the Asteraceae family, is a newly introduced summer annual that closely resembles the more prevalent American burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.)). The seedlings develop a rosette of elliptical leaves with serrated edges, often featuring midveins that are slightly red. In contrast to American burnweed, the leaves of thickhead seedlings are thicker and exhibit deeper venation. As the plants mature, they can reach heights of approximately 4 feet, displaying toothed leaves that wrap around the stem. The flowers of thickhead are red and lack petals, and they tend to droop, suggesting the plants may be under moisture stress. The seeds are dispersed by the wind and can generate several generations within a single growing season. Thickhead can be controlled using a variety of broad-spectrum herbicides, although the effectiveness of these herbicides for this species is primarily based on limited experimental findings.