Virginia Buttonweed

What it looks like

Grows in low, flat mats with rough, opposite leaves that sit right against the stem. Stems are ridged and hairy, and leaves often look yellow-mottled. Small white, four-petaled star-shaped flowers pop up where the leaves meet the stem.

Often mistaken for: Other low-growing mat weeds with small white flowers

When it shows up in the Triangle

Active from June through September, especially during warm, wet stretches.

Where you’ll see it

Shows up in home lawns with wet, poorly drained, or compacted soil.

What you can do

• Improve drainage in low or soggy spots—this is the real fix, not just treating the weed
• Aerate compacted soil to help water move through and roots grow deeper
• Avoid overwatering areas that already stay damp
• Hand-pull small patches carefully, but know it can regrow from leftover root pieces
• Keep an eye on problem spots since this weed spreads quickly once established