Scurvy weed (Commelina cyanea)
Scurvy weed is also known as Forget-Me-Not and Native Wandering Jew. It is not in the same family as Wandering Jew.
After you read this, you will be able to:
- Identify Scurvy Weed or Forget-Me-Not.
- Know the habitat of Scurvy Weed or Forget-Me-Not.
- Know the best cultural and chemical options to control Forget-Me-Not.
Scurvy weed is a long-lived, invasive, branched, creeping weed of gardens. It is a common weed of open, moist habitats with disturbed soils. The weed is able to cope with saturated soils and temporary flooding.
It is a tuberous herb roots from each leaf node on a stem, and spreads rapidly over a lawn, smothering the grass.
The distribution map is courtesy of The Atlas of Living Australia.
How to Identify Scurvy Weed.
Native Wandering Jew or Forget-Me-Not spreads vegetatively via its creeping stems, and by seeds. Seeds and stem pieces spread by water, and also in contaminated soil.
Category: Dicot
Photosynthetic Pathway: C3 Weed.
Flower: The flowers of Scurvy Weed, are in small clusters , and have three bright blue (rarely white) petals. These flowers open only in the morning.
Height: Prostrate.
Leaf length: The leaves of Forget-Me-Not are 4 to 6 cm long, elongate and have pointed tips.
Leaf width: Forget-Me-Not leaves are 2 to 24 mm wide, and have hairs on their leaf margins.
Reproduction: Scurvy Weed spreads via its creeping stems, and by its seeds.
Comments: The leaves are alternate along the length of their stems
Habitat: This plant is usually found in high humidity areas under the shade of trees.
Native Wandering Jew is a good soil indicator of high nutrient soils. For more information check out our weed ID Chart.
How to Control Scurvy Weed in your Lawn.
You can control Forget-Me-Not by cultural and chemical means.
Cultural control.
Native Wandering Jew is a difficult weed to control by hand as small pieces of the plant will re-grow. You need to remove all vegetative material and dispose of it off site.
Chemical control:
In Australia, several herbicides control Native Wandering Jew. Examples include Bentazone, and Pendimethalin (pre-emergent). 2,4-D or glyphosate do not work well to control Scurvy Weed. In Fiji, you can use metsulfuron-methyl.
Non Selective Control of Scurvy Weed.
- Glufosinate-ammonium provides control for 4 to 6 weeks, but it re-grows and recovers due to the limited movement of glufosinate.
- Glyphosate. You can use Glyphosate to control Scurvy Weed. If you use Glyphosate, and water quality is an issue then use ProForce Manta Ray.
The following are non-selective but also have a long term residual and stop re-growth of Forget-Me-Not.
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- Renegade. Renegade stops the germination of Scurvy Weed for up to 12 months, and reduces the need for multiple herbicide applications.
- Numchuk Quad. This gives effective post and pre emergent Native Wandering Jew control for up to 12 months.
- Cortex Duo. Cortex Duo gives a rapid knockdown of Scurvy Weed, and residual control for up to 3 months. It is also safe to use around trees.
