Key identifying traits
- Purplish-pink clusters
of umbel flowers at the top of the stems
- Has a milky white latex
sap
- Leaves are opposite and
oval shaped, 4-7” long and covered with fine hairs
- Seed pods are 3-5” pods
& burst open when dry
- Seeds have a tuft of
hair and are spread by wind
- Plants will grow to 2-5’
tall
- Plant has a grayish
green appearance
Biology and
ecology
- A perennial reproducing
from seeds and underground rootstocks
- The fibers produced in
the seed pods are used commercially
- This plant is a native
to North America
- At maturity the seed
pods pop and the wind picks up the seeds and carries them
- Can be toxic to
livestock, but not usually grazed due to the bitter latex sap
- Infests many acres along
the coasts of Oregon, California, and Washington
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; know your property; do not allow
ornamentals to escape
Biological –
No known biological control
Cultural –
Once established will form colonies that are difficult to control
Mechanical –
Cultivation does not work well because of spreading by root
fragments
Chemical –Difficult due to the
hairs and also the chemicals may bind to the sap decreasing the
effectiveness, but amitrole, glyphosate, or picloram plus 2,4-D have
been found to work for control: refer to the
PNW Weed Management handbook for specific chemical
recommendations
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