1. Purple Loosestrife

    Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife – Erect squarish stems, up to 8 feet tall, Leaves: 1 ½ to 4 inches long, lance-shaped and lack petioles, usually opposite and rotated 90 degrees from the previous node or whorled in sets of 3.Flowers: spikes of magenta flowers 4 – 16 inches long, flowers from July to October.Habitat: Found in wetlands and streams in the Centralia/Chehalis area as well as Stearns Creek and Mineral Lake in Lewis County.Weed Classification: B designateWhy Is It a Noxious Weed?Purple loosestrife is a vigorous competitor and can crowd out other vegetation including native species. It can quickly dominate …


    Weed Control - Sept. 12, 2022, 11:28 a.m.


  2. Policeman's Helmet

    Impatiens glandulifera Policeman's Helmet - An herbaceous annual that is smooth and hairless. It can range from 3 - 10 feet tall.Leaves: Usually 3 leaves per node and are usually alternate, opposite, or whorled. Leaf shape is oblong to ovate to elliptic. About 6 inches long and sharply toothed margins.Flowers: Flowers bloom from July to September. Irregular flowers that are shaped similar to a British policeman's helmet. Color ranges from white to many shades of pink. Flowers have 5 petals (2 fused), 3 sepals (2 fused), and 5 stamens.Habitat: Partially shade tolerant. Found in lowland, riparian habitats such as moist …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:48 a.m.


  3. Parrotfeather

    Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrotfeather - An escaped ornamental that is submerged until it grows long enough to reach the surface where it will then have emergent leaves. This plant has a unique highly hydrophobic property that allows its leaves to hold bubbles of air.Leaves: Featherlike with whorled formation of 4 to 6 leaves. The subsurface leaves are darker than the emerged leaves which are bright green and resemble little fir tree seedlings.Flowers: Inconspicuous whitish flowers found at the leaf axils of emerging stems during summer months.Habitat: Found in freshwater ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. Tends to be rooted in shallow muddy …


    Weed Control - Sept. 26, 2022, 11:33 a.m.


  4. Services

    Weed Identification The most common question we get: "What's this weed?"We love this question, but do ask that you provide us with a good, representative sample, or even a series of photographs of the weed you are concerned about. Samples that include flowers or fruit are often essential for positive identification. Photos should include both close-up, detailed and high-resolution pictures of the stem, nodes, flowers or fruits, as well as pictures taken further back to see the overall shape and size of the plant. You can drop the sample off at the weed office or email us a photo. From …


    Weed Control - March 5, 2015, 2:14 p.m.