Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata)

Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed) is a fast-growing perennial shrub native to the Americas but now widespread in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. It can grow up to 2–3 meters tall, with triangular, aromatic leaves and clusters of small, fluffy white to pale purple flowers. Highly invasive, it quickly colonizes disturbed areas, grasslands, and roadsides, often outcompeting native vegetation and reducing biodiversity. Despite its status as a problematic weed, it has traditional medicinal uses for wound healing and infection control and also provides nectar for butterflies and bees.