Hemp Dogbane is a perennial weed which is right at home in the no-till situation. It is usually controlled by plowing and cultivation. The stem is woody at maturity and the plant has milky sap. The seed is carried in 2 long thin follicles. The seed has a tuft of silky-white hairs at the apex which allows it to move freely through the air. This plant is a good example of natures fight to maintain the species. Some of the seed capsules open in the fall but others remain closed until spring thus allowing for better chance of survival.
Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension