Abutilon theophrasti

Native to northern Africa, western Asia, Pakistan, and eastern Europe. Introduced and naturalized in the United States.

Dry. Fields, disturbed sites. Full sun.

July to October

Yellow to orangish-yellow

1′ to 4′, occasionally taller

This is a 1′ to 4′ tall, occasionally taller, stout, erect, annual forb that rises from a slender taproot.

The stem is much branched above the middle and is covered with star-shaped hairs that have just a few branches from the base (stellate).

The leaves are alternate, large, 4″ to 6″ long, and heart-shaped with a notch at the base. They are gradually taper to a sharp point with concave sides along the tip. They are covered on both sides with stellate hairs, making them velvety to the touch. The margins have minute, blunt teeth. They are borne on 1″ to 5″ long leaf stalks that are also covered with stellate hairs.

The inflorescence consists of solitary flowers born on ¾″ to 1¼″ long stalks arising from the upper angle of the junction between the leaf and the stem (axils). The flower stalks are covered with stellate hairs.

The flowers are ½″ to 1″ wide with 5 yellow to orangish-yellow petals.

The fruit is ¾″ to 1¼″ wide and densely hairy. They have 10 to 15 awned segments, each containing a gray-grown, kidney-shaped seed. The seeds remain viable for up to 50 years.

No similar species