Species specifics: Woolly croton

Fast facts

Woolly croton averages four feet tall with brown branched stems and features hair covered leaves, flowers and fruits – the wool-like appearance
Also known as hogwort, goatweed or dogweed, this native annual weed thrives in hot summer months
While beneficial for some wildlife and birds, woolly croton is toxic to livestock
A common invasive weed found throughout central midwest, south and southeast parts of the United States

What to look for

Woolly croton (Croton capitatus), also known as hogwort, goatweed or dogweed, is a native warm-season annual plant that is toxic to livestock.

Growing up to 4 feet tall, this summer annual features erect and branching brown stems covered in hairs. The simple leaves alternate and have hairs. One of the most notable identifiers of this weed is the fruit – a three-lobbed capsule with a woolly appearance that emerges from densely clustered, inconspicuous flowers at the tip of the branched canopy in June to October. From the fruits, capsules develop containing three seeds that will drop and remain viable in the soil until warming up the following year after a period of dry soil conditions that allows the capsules to pop open.

Because of the capsule propagation method, woolly croton population booms are common in overstocked pastures or after an event that significantly disturbs the soil.

All parts of the plant are poisonous to livestock and dogs. Thanks to its disagreeable taste, grazing animals typically avoid it, however, the weed remains poisonous in dried and stored forages where ingestion is likely if the feedstuff is harvested from an infected pasture. Cattle that consume woolly croton will likely develop skin blisters, experience gastrointestinal distress and often become nervous.

Where it is found

Woolly croton is often found in sandy, open ground fallow fields and pastures, and is commonly revered as desirable habitat for certain game birds and wildlife. he invasive weed tends to flourish in heat and is found from Florida to Texas up to Kansas, Indiana and Ohio.

How to treat it

Apply 16 to 20 fluid ounces of DuraCor® herbicide per acre[MB2] or 24 fluid ounces of NovaGraz™ herbicide plus 1% MSO v/v per acre for a total volume of at 1.2 to 1.5 pints.

Alternatively, GrazonPD3™ herbicide is an option at ⅔ to 1¼ pints per acre when weeds are less than 3 inches tall, or 2 to 2⅔ pints per acre if plants are bigger than 3 inches tall through early flowering stage.

Use higher rates of herbicides on plants that are 10 to 12 inches tall, or those that are fully matured.

GrazonPD3™ is a Restricted Use Pesticide. GrazonPD3 is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. GrazonPD3 is not for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State. Under normal field conditions DuraCor® is non-volatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. DuraCor is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. When using NovaGraz™ herbicide, white clover and annual lespedeza exhibit some initial injury (such as lodging and loss of vigor) but recover. NovaGraz™ is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.