| Description | Velvet leaf, (Abutilon theophrasti) is tall growing plant that is considered a noxious weed in many areas. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (ab-YEW-tih-lon) |
| Plant Type | All Plants, Weeds, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | Cold hardy to at least #5 |
| Sunlight | full |
| Moisture | normal |
| Soil & Site | Readily grows in waste places such as vacant lots, roadsides, etc. |
| Temperature | frosy tender |
| Flowers | 1/2'-1" yellow flowers, bore singly in small clusters in the axils |
| Fruit | cup-shaped seed pod, ring of prickles on the edge |
| Leaves | large cordate, taper to a point, slightly toothed or entire and velvet-like texture |
| Stems | older plants form stout stems |
| Roots | large tap root, |
| Dimensions | Can become large, up to 6 feet, depending on the growing site and when the seeds germinate. |
| Native Site | Depending on the source it is native to China or India. |
| Cultivar Origin | first imported into the USA from England in about 1750, |
| Misc Facts | Used as a source of fiber for bags, rope and cordage. The hemp plant turned out to be a better source of this fiber and Velvet-leaf was no longer cultivated. It than naturalized and became a weed throughout most of the USA. The pods were used to stamp butter and pie crusts hence the common names of pie-crust, pie-maker, butter print, etc. |
| Author's Notes | This is listed as a noxious weed in many areas. In the area I live in it is one of the first weeds to pop up after soil has been spread for landscaping purposes. Doesn't seem to be much of a weed in turf grass. |
| Notes & Reference | #07-Newcombs Guide to Wildflowers, #19-Common Weeds of the United States, #49-The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers |
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