BACKGROUND: Native to southern Europe and western Asia, perennial pepperweed is commonly found in wet drainage areas of waste areas, ditches, roadsides, and crop lands.

OTHER COMMON NAMES: Tall whitetop

DESCRIPTION: Perennial pepperweed grows from 1 to 6 feet tall. It is a creeping perennial and has spreading lateral rootstocks. Leaves have smooth to lightly toothed margins. Stems and leaves are waxy. Four-petaled white flowers form dense clusters at the end of branches. Flowering takes place from summer into early fall. Seeds form in round, flattened two- chambered pods.

CONTROL: Biocontrol research is in early stages. Select herbicides can offer fair to good control when applied to actively growing plants up to pre bloom.