While waterhemp is a native plant, it is extremely aggressive and can take over wet areas. We leave it on the riverbanks but remove it if found in inner wetland or raingarden areas.

The hairless stems are either round or ridged, and green or pinkish red.

The hairless alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 1½" across.

They are lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, or oblong, with smooth margins and a somewhat shiny upper surface.

The petioles are long and narrow, sometimes as long as the leaves, but usually shorter.

The flowers are arranged in spikes, or narrow panicles of spikes