BY ANDREA WALTON
Spotted knapweed is a biennial that produces up to 25,000 seeds that may remain in the soil for up to eight years. It is a native plant of Europe and was brought to North America in the 1800s. Mature plants may grow to 3 feet in height. Flowering heads are pink to purple and appear from midsummer to fall.
Spotted knapweed produces a natural herbicide called “catechin” that eradicates plants around it. Early detection and rapid response are key elements in eradicating spotted knapweed. This noxious weed can be found on rangelands and roadsides, and in dry meadows, pastures, upland rocky areas and sandy or gravelly flooded plains of streams and rivers. Approximately 100,000 acres currently infest Idaho.
Warnings about noxious weeds may seem trivial until you look at their damages based on numbers: $300 million annually in loses to our economy; $20 million to fight noxious weeds on the ground; and more than 8 million acres of land and water infested by noxious weeds. (Resource: Idaho Weed Awareness.org).
Noxious weeds are a serious matter and you can help us fight them. The Blaine County Noxious Weed Department, along with the Blaine County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), would like to assist you in identifying the 67 noxious weeds in the state of Idaho.
The Blaine County Noxious Weed Department is a great resource for property owners (remember, property owners are obligated by law to control all noxious weeds on their property) and can assist with weed identification, management plans, tools, and general information. For more information, call (208) 788-5543 or visit www.blainecounty.org.
Andrea Walton is an administrative specialist with Blaine County.