Flower profile

Caesar weed

Urena lobata

Caesar weed (Urena lobata) is a low shrub in the Malvaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–December across the U.S.

Not native to Florida

Caesar weed is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.

3states where USDA records it

9,236FL sightings*

9,326U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Urena lobata, commonly known as Caesarweed or Congo jute, is a tender perennial, variable, erect, ascendant shrub or subshrub measuring up to 0.5 meters (1.6 ft) to 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) tall. The stems are covered with minute, star-like hairs and often tinged purple.
From Wikipedia's article Urena lobata, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Malvaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Florida. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 9,236 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #7 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–December.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (348 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records caesar weed in 3 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Escambia, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Native; Puerto Rico: Native; U.S. Virgin Islands: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Urena trilobata.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 52 counties across 4 states; the most are in Florida (36), Palau (12), Hawaii (3).

More from the Malvaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Turk's cap, Common hibiscus, Swamp rose mallow, Velvetleaf, Dwarf mallow, Apricot globemallow, Checkerbloom, Scarlet globemallow.

More Florida flowers

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Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis

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🌷 Grown in Florida gardens

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

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🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: May–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile URLO.
iNaturalist, Urena lobata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Urena lobata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Urena lobata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Josiah Londerée via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.