Few weeds earn a folk name as vivid as "Tall Sock Destroyer," and Torilis arvensis lives up to every syllable of it. This annual from the carrot family sends up airy white umbels in early summer, presenting a lace-like face entirely at odds with its aggressive dispersal strategy. Each bristly seed is engineered to grab passing fur or fabric and hitch a ride, which explains how this Eurasian roadside native has colonized disturbed ground and logged woodland margins across North America.

In the garden it is unwelcome but worth knowing on sight. The taproot is shallow enough to pull before seed set, but timing is everything since plants self-seed prolifically and the seeds remain viable in the soil. Along fence lines and hedgerow edges it will establish quickly in thin, disturbed soil. Bees work the umbels with some enthusiasm, so its ecological footprint is not purely destructive, though most gardeners will find that a small comfort.