Velvetleaf
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Abutilon theophrasti
Colorado noxious weed · List C — Manage widespread weeds. CO-rules-2025
Widespread and well established. Control is recommended by the state; local governments may require management. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Persistent seeds and strong crop competition. Exposure help.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats, Other animals. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.
Salicyna · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Karelj · Public domain
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
An upright summer annual with velvety, heart-shaped leaves, yellow five-petaled flowers and a ring-like capsule of pointed segments. K-velvetleaf
Plants & habitat
A competitive crop weed whose durable seedbank can require years of follow-up. Prevent plants from replenishing seeds. K-velvetleaf
People
The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety.
Dogs & cats
The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.
Other animals
The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for livestock. Missing evidence does not establish safety.
Before taking action
Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27
References
- CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- K-velvetleaf — Velvetleaf, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:16:19+00:00. Locator: Species identity, description, ecological and exposure evidence; verify group scope.
- S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.