Noxious Weed News. Plant Spotlight-Japanese Knotweed. Japanese knotweed herbicide application is most effective AFTER FLOWERING in August September

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Bryce Maurice Barrett
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1 Volume 2 Issue 2 June 2013 Japanese knotweed herbicide application is most effective AFTER FLOWERING in August

Cut and Bag 4 Policeman's helmet 5 Shiny Geranium 6 Resources available 6 Weed Warrior Apps 7 Weeds to control

Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) is an aggressive escaped ornamental.

Japanese knotweed lowers in late summer and can grow over 8 feet tall.

Japanese knotweed spreads by plant fragments and extensive rhizomatous root system.

Knotweed injection guns are available for the public to borrow from the Noxious Weed Program.

1 1 Volume 2 Issue 2 June 2013 Japanese knotweed herbicide application is most effective AFTER FLOWERING in August September Inside this issue: Common toxic ornamental plants 2-3 Too late to spray? Cut and Bag 4 Policeman's helmet 5 Shiny Geranium 6 Resources available 6 Weed Warrior Apps 7 Weeds to control summer & fall 8 COWLITZ COUNTY NOXIOUS WEEDCONTROL BOARD Noxious Weed News Plant Spotlight-Japanese Knotweed Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) is an aggressive escaped ornamental. This plant has hollow, bamboo like stalks and bright green, heart shaped leaves. Japanese knotweed lowers in late summer and can grow over 8 feet tall. Knotweed is a perennial that dies back in the fall. Dead plants canes can pose a ire hazard. Japanese knotweed spreads by plant fragments and extensive rhizomatous root system. Preferring moist rich soil knotweed is commonly found along streams, rivers, residential properties and along roadsides. This invasive plant is capable of growing dense stands crowding out native vegetation and reducing ish and wildlife habitats. The best control method for Japanese knotweed is foliar herbicide application or stalk injection. Knotweed injection guns are available for the public to borrow from the Noxious Weed Program. A cost share program is also available to land owners for re imbursement of herbicide cost (Check eligibility requirements). For more information on Japanese knotweed herbicide recommendations, Injection guns, or cost share forms please contact our of ice at (360) or online at Fall Foliar spray- Glyphosate: Roundup, Killzall, Aquamaster*, Rodeo* Imazapyr: Arsenal*, Habitat*, Polaris* Stem Injection Glyphosate: Aquamaster*, Round up Pro Concentrate * Aquatic label use requires an aquatic licensed applicator to apply near water.

2 Page 2 Common Toxic Ornamental plants There are many toxic plants and shrubs, here are a few common toxic ornamental plants to keep an eye on.

If you suspect you or someone you know has been poisoned please contact the national poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222.

The Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is a spring perennial with green shiny stems and long slender leaves.

The Hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis) is Daffodil Daffodil bulbs also a spring perennial with long, slender, shiny green leaves.

The colors of the hyacinth range from white, pink to dark purple and are very fragrant.

failure and death. Most commonly poisoned by the daffodil and Hyacinth are humans, domestic pets and grazing animals.

The rhododendron is a shrub with deciduous green leaves that are usually dark green and leathery.

2 2 Page 2 Common Toxic Ornamental plants There are many toxic plants and shrubs, here are a few common toxic ornamental plants to keep an eye on. These toxic plants are harmful when ingested. If you suspect you or someone you know has been poisoned please contact the national poison control hotline Daffodil and Hyacinth produce beautiful spring flowers, however be cautious as the stems and bulbs as these can prove fatal. The Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is a spring perennial with green shiny stems and long slender leaves. The daffodil has a vibrant yellow, trumpet shaped flower. The Hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis) is Daffodil Daffodil bulbs also a spring perennial with long, slender, shiny green leaves. The flowers are small, star-shaped and grow in clusters along the stem. The colors of the hyacinth range from white, pink to dark purple and are very fragrant. The bulbs of the daffodil and Hyacinth hyacinth have been mistaken for onion and ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, liver failure and death. Most commonly poisoned by the daffodil and Hyacinth are humans, domestic pets and grazing animals. Rhododendron (Rhododendron l) is the Washington State flower but is also a toxic plant. The rhododendron is a shrub with deciduous green leaves that are usually dark green and leathery. The flowers are bell shaped, often fragrant blooming in clusters and may contain a sticky nectar. Flowers range from whites, yellows, pinks, and purples. The Azalea (Rhodendron occidentale) shrub also in the rhododendron family, has similar bell shaped flowers available in a rainbow of colors. Azalea leaves are thin soft and pointed. All parts of both the Rhododendron and the azalea are toxic including the nectar, seeds, flowers and leaves. Effects of consuming these plants include nausea, vomiting, depression, difficulty breathing, Rhododendron coma and death. Accidental poisoning of honey made from the pollen and nectar of the rhododendron dates back to the 4th century BC in classical Greece. Azalea Rhododen- Azalea

3 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 English ivy (Hedera helix) a climbing evergreen vine is also a toxic plant.

The flowers of English ivy are waxy, dark green and three lobed heart shaped.

The sap of the English ivy plant can cause dermatitis on the skin including lesions and blisters.

Humans, domestic animals, cattle and horses can be affected by the berries of English ivy.

Vinca has small, dark green, glossy leaves and small, violet star-shaped flowers. Vinca is a low growing groundcover with invasive tendencies.

Humans, horses and domestic pets are at risk of Vinca poisoning. Page 3 The Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common wildflower that is also sold as an ornamental.

3 3 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 English ivy (Hedera helix) a climbing evergreen vine is also a toxic plant. Ivy is commonly used as a ground cover, however ivy is highly invasive and is on the Washington State Noxious Weed list as a Class C noxious weed. The flowers of English ivy are waxy, dark green and three lobed heart shaped. The fruit of the ivy arrives in spring and ranges from green to maturity English Ivy with fruit when it is black. The sap of the English ivy plant can cause dermatitis on the skin including lesions and blisters. The berries of the English ivy are highly toxic, ingestion can cause difficult breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, paralysis and coma. Humans, domestic animals, cattle and horses can be affected by the berries of English ivy. The increasingly popular ground cover Periwinkle (Vinca Rosea) also known as Vinca is also a toxic plant. Vinca has small, dark green, glossy leaves and small, violet star-shaped flowers. Vinca is a low growing groundcover with invasive tendencies. All plant parts are toxic if ingested causing vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, depression, tremors, seizures, Periwinkle-Vinca coma and death. Humans, horses and domestic pets are at risk of Vinca poisoning. Page 3 The Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common wildflower that is also sold as an ornamental. Foxglove plant is commonly found in wooded areas and along roads. The leaves are large and oval shaped with prominent veins. The flower stalk grows 3-4 feet tall with flowers growing the entire length of the stalk. Foxglove flowers are bell shaped and range from Foxglove foliage Fox glove light pink to purple. All parts of foxglove are toxic; the roots, leaves, sap, flowers and seeds. Ingestion of foxglove plant parts can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular and slow pulse, headache, tremors, unusual color vision and convulsions. Humans, domestic pets, cows, horses and goats are affected by the toxic foxglove plant. For more information on toxic plants for you and your animals visit our website at under documents select toxic plant link to view our toxic plant book. You may also contact our office for a free printed copy of the toxic plant book.

weeds. What is a qualifying weed? Noxious weeds like: Tansy ragwort, Canada thistle, and Yellow Archangel.

Our Cost-Share program provides financial help to landowners who are actively working to control these noxious weeds.

4 4 Page 2 Too Late to Spray? Cut and Bag Your Noxious Weeds This year, The Noxious Weed Control Program is making improvements on our popular Cost-Share program by making Noxious Weed Bags available for folks with qualifying weeds. What is a qualifying weed? Noxious weeds like: Tansy ragwort, Canada thistle, and Yellow Archangel. Other weeds may be okay to bag, but please contact our office and speak to one of the inspectors for more information. Our Cost-Share program provides financial help to landowners who are actively working to control these noxious weeds. We encourage herbicide application as the main means to control most of these invasive weeds because it is fast, safe, and for the most part, less expensive. For those of you who may not be comfortable with herbicides, we can suggest other means of control that may work for the noxious weed species you are dealing with. However, some noxious weeds are not controlled by any other means but with herbicides. For those weeds that can be cut and bagged, we can help you by providing you with our NEW Noxious Weed Bags and even picking up the cost of taking those bagged weeds to the Waste Control facility at rd Avenue in Longview. Our bags are clear see-through so NO GARBAGE! Only weeds go in these bags. Noxious weeds are of great concern here in our county and we are hoping to encourage landowners to control these weeds. Control can be achieved with different methods: mowing or weedeating, covering with landscape fabric or mulch, cutting and bagging, and spraying with herbicides. It is really up to you how you chose to deal with these invasive weeds. So, if you have noxious weeds and you would like to cut and bag them, give us a call! Remember, if the noxious weeds have been flowering for at least a couple of weeks, it is too late to spray and you must cut and bag them to prevent the seeds from spreading to neighboring properties.

The leaf arrangement can be opposite or whorled with three leaves per node. Leaf shape varies from oblong to egg-shaped, with serrated edges.

5 5 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 Policeman's Helmet Policeman s helmet is an herbaceous annual that is succulent, smooth stemmed and hairless. The plants can reach the height of 10 feet tall, although they can be smaller. The upright, hollow stems are easily broken and have a purple tinge. The leaf arrangement can be opposite or whorled with three leaves per node. Leaf shape varies from oblong to egg-shaped, with serrated edges. The flowers of this plant are solitary, irregular, and range from white to all shades of pink in color, with 5 petals and 5 fused stamens. The overall flower shape resembles and English policeman s helmet. The fruit is a 5-chambered capsule. The seed capsules are elongated and when touched the mature capsule explodes ejecting up to 800 seeds. Resources available: The Noxious Weed Program has many educational recourses available to the public. Here is some of what we have to offer: Noxious Weed Control Sheets Noxious Weed Postcards Written Findings Page 5 Policeman's helmet forms dense stands along river systems and moist lowlands and will also invade roadsides and fields when it escapes maintained areas. Dispose of this plant only by placing clippings or the whole plant in a sealed plastic bag to be thrown away. Do not compost. Policeman s helmet is often sold as an ornamental, so it s important to learn to identify plants. Do not purchase plants that have invasive tendencies, start monitoring early in the season and do not allow plants to produce seed. I am a botanical bully Toxic plant ID book Plant alternative books Noxious Weed Calendars Noxious Weed notepads Kids stickers

6 6 Page 4 Why is Shiny geranium (Geranium lucidum) a noxious weed? This Class A noxious weed can spread very quickly and can crowd out the many important native herbaceous plants that grow in the forest understory. Where do you find Shiny geranium? The largest known populations are in Clark and Skagit counties, but isolated infestations have recently been discovered in other western Washington counties. It is found in well-shaded, moist woodlands and thrives in forest clearings. What can you do? Learn to identify this plant. Please note that eradication of this plant is required in Washington State. Small infestations can easily be handpulled and discarded in the trash. Help prevent the spread of this and other noxious weeds by cleaning off boots and hiking/camping gear. Report any sightings to your county noxious weed control board For more information on this and other invasive plant species visit our website at

7 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 What is a Weed Warrior?

not belong in our state. What is an App? An App is the abbreviation for application, a piece of software that can run on the internet through your computer, phone or other electronic device.

This information is sent to the local natural resource agencies, biologists and Weed Boards so they can locate the plant infestation and prevent spread of the invasive species.

There are many Weed Warrior apps available for adults and children. Here are our top picks.

you explore and learn about invasive plants and animals with the What's Invasive App or the EDDMapSWest App both available for the IPhone and Android What's invasive! The What's Invasive!

invasive management authorities. You can browse these lists of species and if you see one of them, then click the species name to send the GPS location to the experts.

inaturalist helps you record your observations from the natural world and contribute them to inaturalist.org, a social network for naturalists. Read the getting started guide (www.inaturalist.org/docs/gett ing_started.

7 7 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2 What is a Weed Warrior? It s Simple, a Weed Warrior is you (a concerned citizen) who has the opportunity to help identify weird plants out of place, possible invaders, dangerous exotic species and overall bad plants that do not belong in our state. What is an App? An App is the abbreviation for application, a piece of software that can run on the internet through your computer, phone or other electronic device. Combine the two and you have the tools to identify and report invasive plants. This information is sent to the local natural resource agencies, biologists and Weed Boards so they can locate the plant infestation and prevent spread of the invasive species. With the help of Weed Warrior Apps you can help prevent the spread of invasive plants that damage natural resources, farming and recreational areas throughout Washington State. There are many Weed Warrior apps available for adults and children. Here are our top picks. Inspire youth to become citizen scientists with the Project Noah App or the inaturalist App Both available for Android and IPhone Weed Warrior Apps Page 7 Experience a different side of nature while you explore and learn about invasive plants and animals with the What's Invasive App or the EDDMapSWest App both available for the IPhone and Android What's invasive! The What's Invasive! app displays local lists of top invasive plants and/or animals (with images and short descriptions to remind you of what they look like) that have been identified by National Park Service or other invasive management authorities. You can browse these lists of species and if you see one of them, then click the species name to send the GPS location to the experts. You can add a photo and text notes to your observation as well. inaturalist-explore! Learn! Record! inaturalist helps you record your observations from the natural world and contribute them to inaturalist.org, a social network for naturalists. Read the getting started guide ( ing_started.html) to find out more. Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere. For more information visit All Four Apps Available for Free Visit for more information or to set up your own site for invasive species data collection. Available for IPhone and Android EDDMapsSWest EDDMapS is a national webbased mapping system for documenting invasive species distribution. It is fast, easy to use and doesn't require Geographic Information Systems experience. ED- DMapS combines data from other databases and organizations as well as volunteer observations to create a national network of invasive species distribution data that is shared with educators, land managers, conservation biologists, and beyond. This data serves as the foundation for a better understanding of invasive species distribution around the world. For more information please visit Available for IPhone and Android

8 Weeds to control between Summer and Fall. *Weeds are designated high priority for control and enforcement action in Cowlitz County. Class Name Season Control Options B Butterfly bush Summer Spring to Fall foliar spray before flower set; cutting and digging is NOT recommended. 8 B* Canada thistle Summer Repeated mowing to control seed production; vegetative competition; Foliar spray before flower set. B Dalmatian toadflax Summer Repeated digging or pulling; vegetative competition; foliar spray before flower set. B* Herb-Robert Spring to Fall Repeated pulling and mowing before seeds form. Apply foliar spray to actively growing plants before flower set; vegetative competition. B* Knotweed Early Fall Repeated foliar and stem spray or stem injection. Dispose of plants in garbage if cut. Digging and weed eating is NOT recommended. B* Meadow & Spotted Knapweed, Summer to Fall Repeated mowing, digging and pulling; grazing by sheep and goats; sod competition; foliar sprays. B* Poison hemlock Spring to Fall Digging or cutting; vegetation competition; foliar spray before flower set or stem injection before flowering; DO NOT compost or burn. B* Purple loosestrife Early Summer Hand dig or pull small plants; repeated mowing or cutting; plastic or fabric cover in flower beds; foliar spray before flower set. B* Scotch broom, Early Summer Repeated mowing and cutting; competition; biological controls; spring foliar spray; brush-on application at end of summer. B* Tansy ragwort Late Summer Repeated digging, cutting, mowing; cultivation; grazing by goats or sheep; biological controls ; foliar spray before flower set. B Yellow archangel Spring / Summer Repeated cutting pulling; cover with cardboard and 3-4 of mulch,; foliar spray applied to actively growing plants. Visit us at our booth in the expo center during the 2013 Cowlitz County Fair July th Stop the Weeds, Catch the Seeds COWLITZ COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD Administration Annex Bldg. 1st floor 207 Fourth Avenue North Kelso, WA Phone: Fax: NEW! Web:

Bird s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Bird s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) Description: Bird s-foot trefoil is an invasive species that creates tangled mats of dense growth that can choke out other plants. The hardy perennial has a