Tridax Daisy (Tridax procumbens).
After you finish reading this, you will be able to:
- Identify the Tridax Daisy, Coat Buttons or the Mexican Daisy.
- Know the habitat of the Tridax Daisy or Coat Buttons.
- Know the best cultural and chemical options to control Coat Buttons or the Mexican Daisy.
How to Identify the Tridax Daisy.
Coat Buttons or the Mexican Daisy is at first prostrate, and then becomes erect. It then forms patches, up to 50 cm in diameter and 20 to 30 cm high.
Category: Broadleaf (Dicot)
Flower: Tridax Daisy has daisy-like yellow-centered white or yellow flowers with three- toothed ray florets. They are 1-1.5 cm wide, and on a 10-30 cm long stalk. It flowers in the Spring.
Height: 20 – 30cm high.
Leaf length: The thick, soft and dark green leaves have a strongly and irregularly serrated margin, and are 2.5 to 6 cm long. The leaves are opposite, simple, thick, with uneven strong tines, and with dense hairs.
Leaf width: The leaves are 2 to 5 cm wide.
Reproduction: It reproduces by seed, but can propagate through cuttings. Wind disperses the seed, and their sticky nature allows them to adhere to the hairs of animals or clothing.
Comments: Both the upper and lower leaf surfaces have a cover of close-lying hairs. But, as the plant matures it loses the upper leaf hairs.
Habitat: The Tridax Daisy is a weed, of croplands, lawns, disturbed areas, and roadsides
A key characteristic to identify Tridax Daisy is the cover of erect stiff hairs. You find these more toward the top of the plant and they are more scattered towards the base. The root is a strong taproot.
The Tridax Daisy is a good soil indicator weed of disturbed soils, and thin lawns. For more information check out our weed ID Chart.
How to control Tridax Daisy in your lawn.
You can control Coat Buttons by cultural and chemical means.
Cultural control:
Chemical control of the Coat Buttons:
There are now several post emergent options to control Tridax Daisy. Selective options include: 2,4-D, Quali-Pro Negate (only warm season turf), and Campbells Stature (not on home lawns).
Non selective options include Glyphosate (Rapid Fire 800). If you use this and water quality is an issue then we recommend the use of ProForce Manta Ray.
