Orange Hawkweed is a dandelion’s beautiful but unwanted relative;  the type that comes uninvited to visit, refuses to leave, and does nothing but sit around watching television and eating bonbons.  If you have ever seen the old comedy, “Married with Children,” you will know that the Hawkweed is the Peg Bundy of flowers.  The plant ... Read More

Henbane (aka/stinking nightshade) has an interesting history.  In ancient times it was combined with other botanicals to create a psychoactive potion which was used for medicinal or religious purposes.  During the middle ages it was associated with witchcraft.  It is thought the “hebenon” used in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet was henbane.  In liquid form the henbane ... Read More

One of the more difficult invasive plants to identify are thistles.  There are so many varieties and so many similarities to their native counterparts.  Landowners often end up destroying native thistle while attempting to get rid of invaders.  It seems herbicides and biocontrol insects can’t tell the difference, either.  Native species that local wildlife relies ... Read More

Who doesn’t love hounds and wouldn’t mind a friendly to get a friendly lick from one?  Well, this houndstongue is one to avoid. Photo by Bernd Haynold Why are some of the prettiest flowers uninvited guests?  Houndstongue is a noxious weed from Asia and Europe that is believed to have come to the U.S. in ... Read More

Many invasive plants and animals were introduced to an area with the best of intentions.  African Rue was first grown in the U.S. by a New Mexican farmer who wanted to manufacture a red dye.  It has since spread to dry regions in several states, pushing out native plants.  We are finding it in Harney ... Read More

Tansy Ragwort sounds like a Harry Potter character, but there’s nothing entertaining about this weed.  It’s an invasive, meaning it pushes out native plants, and also deadly.  All of the plant is dangerous.  It contains liver damaging alkaloids that are toxic to all animals but sheep (Sheep have ruminal microbes that can safely consume the ... Read More

This is a goathead, also called puncturevine.  It is also aptly named Terror of the Earth.  Stepping on a Lego during the night is nothing compared to getting one of these stuck in a toe.  Anyone walking a dog near a puncturevine patch will inevitably have to stop and remove a burr or two so ... Read More

St. John’s Wort has been used in humans as an *antidepressant (studies have been inconclusive), but there is no way a rancher would want this weed near his or her livestock. Besides pushing out native plants It is toxic to cattle, sheep, horses (there is conflicting information with goats—best to avoid), as well as dogs ... Read More

This thistle looks much like the other thistles.  It’s called the Canada thistle not because it originated in that country but that’s where it was introduced (scientists believe it was hiding in crop seed).    The thistle grows three to five feet tall with stickers and little purple heads (there are some white ones). The ... Read More

              Halogeton is both noxious and poisonous.  It pushes out native weeds through removing salt from the soil which is then leached back from the roots into the soil.  This both increases soil salinity and pushes out native weeds through the soil nutrient change.  The salt is a soluble ... Read More