INVASIVE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS BECOME NOXIOUS WEEDS!!!
If a plant does well in our environment, reproduces without difficulty, and is prolific… it will eventually become a noxious weed that is expensive sometimes impossible to control…
Non- native plants usually have no natural predators, making it easy for them to “naturalize and push out native vegetation. Most non-native plants are not consumed by wildlife nor used as habitat, removing natural environments, and reducing populations of our native animals. Some think it isn’t wet enough here or it is too hot here to allow escape of…
In an irrigated environment, anything that needs water can and will find a niche to escape in Eastern Washington.
Yellow flag Iris was an aquatic ornamental for water gardens and ponds, has escaped cultivation and is consuming our sloughs and water ways in central Washington. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/yellow-flag-iris
Parrot feather, a fish tank plant, was dumped into a stream and is now filling ponds and tributaries to the Yakima River in the lower Yakima Valley. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/parrotfeather
Yellow Floating Heart, an aquatic, “water garden” plant, densely covers ponds, blocking out sunlight, and preventing other vegetation. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/yellow-floating-heart
Arundo Donax “Giant Reed” travels by root fragment takes over water ways and wetlands and is being found in the lower and upper Yakima areas in open fields and ditch banks… https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/giant-reed
Japanese, Himalayan, and Giant Knotweed, once sold as Chinese bamboo, false bamboo, has taken over river systems and creeks throughout Washington, damages water systems, destroys foundations and fills in thickly pushing out all native vegetation. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/japanese-knotweed
Oriental Clematis pulls down fences, trees and native vegetation, forms dense mats that push out all other vegetation. Small feathery seeds travel by wind and animal, as well as mowing equipment. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/oriental-clematis
Myrtle Spurge grows in rocky barren areas, tolerates poor soil conditions, spreads by plant fragment and seed, and is spreading in forest and sage brush habitats. It does not provide habitat nor food sources for wildlife. Is being found on roadsides and embankments near Rimrock Lake, on Chinook pass, and in sage lands and bar ditches in Eastern Washington. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/myrtle-spurge
Ravenna Grass spreads by fluffy feathery seed with wind and animal movement, as well as root fragments. Is found in Eastern Washington in riparian areas, along canals right of ways. Stem clippings can set root at joints. Once established is very difficult to eradicate. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/ravenna-grass
Purple Loosestrife grows in moist areas, river and stream banks, ponds and backwaters. Is found along irrigation canals, streams, wetland/riparian areas. Spreads by seed as well as root. Is difficult to control in flood areas. It is not a viable food/habitat source for wildlife. Each plant produces millions of tiny seeds, rapidly forcing out. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/purple-loosestrife
Hairy Willow-herb semi-aquatic perennial. Grows in damp to wet areas with full sun. found in disturbed areas and out competes native riparian plants. Spread by seed and rhizome, as well as stolon and plant fragments. Seeds are wind born as well as animal and water dispersed. Broken roots/rhizomes can start new colonies. https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/hairy-willow-herb