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Soliva sessilis

common soliva

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Soliva sessilis is a low, spreading winter annual in the daisy family, native to South America and widely naturalized in North America as a lawn and turf weed. It forms flat rosettes and trailing stems 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) high and 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) across, hugging the ground. The leaves are finely divided into narrow segments, giving a soft, parsley-like or fern-like look. From late winter into spring it produces small, stalkless green flower heads tucked in the leaf axils; the heads have no showy petals and are easy to overlook. As the seeds ripen, each fruit develops a sharp, stiff spine, and the clustered burs become painful to bare feet, pets, and hands, which is the plant's main significance in lawns and play areas. S. sessilis grows in thin or compacted turf, sandy soil, paths, and disturbed open ground, completing its life cycle in the cool season and dying as temperatures rise. It tolerates mowing by flowering and fruiting below the blade height. The plant self-seeds heavily, returning each fall from seed, and forms dense low patches in worn lawns.

Native Range

Soliva sessilis is native to temperate South America, including Argentina and Chile. It has naturalized widely in North America, Australia, and parts of Europe, where it grows in lawns, turf, sandy soils, paths, and disturbed open ground.

Suggested Uses

Soliva sessilis is not planted intentionally and is managed as a weed of lawns, turf, and play areas. Where it appears, dense turf and timely control limit its spread. The plant is known mainly for the sharp burs it produces in worn grass.

How to Identify

Recognized by low, ground-hugging rosettes of finely divided, parsley-like leaves and small green flower heads set without stalks in the leaf axils. The defining feature is the cluster of spine-tipped fruits that form in spring; each seed bears a single sharp spine. The flat winter-spring habit and spiny burs separate it from other small lawn weeds with similar lacy foliage.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1" - 4"

Width/Spread4" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Winter Spring

Inconspicuous green flower heads form from late winter into spring, tucked against the stems in the leaf axils without showy petals. The heads are wind- and self-pollinated. The spine-tipped seeds ripen soon after and harden as the plant matures.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Soliva sessilis is a cool-season annual that germinates in fall, grows low through winter, flowers and fruits in spring, then dies as the weather warms. It grows in full sun to partial shade in thin, sandy, or compacted soil at pH 5.5 to 7.5 and tolerates low fertility and drought during its short cycle. In turf it is favored by thin, worn lawns and bare patches, where seedlings establish in open ground. Dense, vigorous turf and fall pre-emergent treatment reduce it. Because the spiny seeds spread on shoes, mowers, and animals, patches enlarge over successive years where the soil stays open.

Pruning

Pruning does not apply to this low annual weed. Mowing does not remove it, because it flowers and sets seed below normal cutting height. Removing or treating plants in late winter, before the spiny seeds form, prevents the burs from developing.