1. Poison Hemlock

    Conium maculatum Poison Hemlock - Very tall biennial that can grow up to around 12 feet in height. Stems will have purple splotches that help with identification.Leaves: Leaves are fern-like, toothed and finely divided. Look very similar to wild carrot leaves.Flowers: Flowers bloom from April-August. Flowers are small, white, and occur in 4–8-inch umbrella-shaped clusters.Habitat: Plant is highly adaptive, but prefers rich, moist soil.Weed Classification: B SelectWhy is it a Noxious Weed?The entire plant is toxic to animals and humans. Contains poisonous alkaloids, such as coniine. Poison Hemlock can spread quickly and infest large areas.Poison Hemlock should not be burned, …


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

  2. Weed Identification

    Successful weed management starts with proper identification What is it? Is it noxious? Is it native? Is it poisonous? Is it even a weed?Weeds can fall under many different categories, and sometimes the same weed can be many of these at once! The first step in successful weed management is accurate identification and understanding of its life cycle. We are available to identify weeds both in the office and on site. There are also numerous resources online to help identify the weed in question, along with descriptions of feasible control options and methods, here are a few of our favorites:Washington …


    Weed Control - Sept. 27, 2019, 12:57 p.m.

  3. Class Bs of Concern

    The Class Bs featured here are either already found in Lewis County or have been confirmed in neighboring counties and are likely to be introduced. Weeds are often spread unintentionally through the movement of materials, such as hay, dirt, gravel, and woodchips. They are also brought in by pets, animals, floods, ATVs and other vehicles, and watercraft. Finally, many are brought in intentionally as ornamentals by those who are unfamiliar with the noxiousness of that particular species. It is very important to recognize noxious weeds so that you can have a better understanding of your risk of transporting seeds or …


    Weed Control - March 5, 2015, 1:44 p.m.

  4. Common fennel

    Foeniculum vulgare Common Fennel - A large perennial herb that grows to be about 6' tall, smells strongly of licorice, and spreads via seeds and pieces of the root crown.Leaves: Dark green or bronze feather-like, deeply lobed and somewhat spindly, the leaves are completely hairless and attachment points (petioles) are fleshy with a wide base.Flowers: In bloom from May to September, the small yellow flowers form an umbrella shaped cluster (umbel) and resemble those of poison hemlock and wild chervil.Habitat: Can establish in just about any habitat from roadsides, to prairies, to coastal bluffs, to wetland areas.Weed Classification: B DesignateWhy …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:46 a.m.

  5. Common Catsear

    Hypochaeris radicata Common Catsear - A perennial with a basal rosette of leaves, followed by upright/slightly bent stems that are usually leafless in its second year.Leaves: Leaves are rough and hairy, with lobed or waxy margins. Leaves can be 1.2-13.8 inches long and .2-2.8 inches wide.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-October. Dandelion-like flowers that are yellow and disc like and are 1-1.5 inches across.Habitat: Common Catsear grows in disturbed areas, such as yards, roadsides, pastures, waste areas, gardens, and seed fields.Weed Classification: CWhy is it a Noxious Weed?It is a potentially poisonous, aggressively spreading plant that invades lawns and lowland pastures. …


    Weed Control - Oct. 6, 2022, 9:32 a.m.

  6. Projects

    Eradication: Class A Noxious Weeds Class A noxious weeds are Lewis County Noxious Weed Control's highest priority for early detection and rapid eradication. Generally, these noxious weeds are either entirely absent in Washington State or are only present in a very limited distribution. As such, and as required by law, the management goal for these weed species is total eradication in all plant parts. Garlic mustard, Giant hogweed, False brome and Milk thistle are all examples of Class A noxious weeds that have become more common in the state in recent years and could conceivably arrive in Lewis County from …


    Weed Control - March 20, 2015, 1:11 p.m.

  7. Milk Thistle

    Silybum marianum Milk Thistle - A large, sparsely branched thistle growing up to 6 feet tall. Easy to identify, due to the leaf patterning.Leaves: Alternate, deeply lobed, and pointed leaves. Leaves have a very noticeable white and dark green marbling. The basal leaves can get up to 20 inches long and 10 inches wide.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-August. Rounded cluster of tubular flowers that have spine-tipped bracts (scales) around it.Habitat: Occurs in many places such as: overgrazed pastures, roadsides, waste areas, ditches, and disturbed areas.Weed Classification: AWhy is it a Noxious Weed?It is an aggressive invader that can grow into …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:57 a.m.

  8. The State Noxious Weed Law

    The term "noxious" is a legal term, rather than botanical or technical. It is used to describe non-native plants that have been introduced to Washington from other parts of the world and have a damaging impact on the local industries that rely on having a healthy ecosystem and plant community, such as agriculture, etc. Because of their aggressive growth and lack of natural enemies in the state, these species can be highly destructive, competitive, or difficult to control. Noxious weeds can reduce crop yields, destroy native plant and animal habitats, severely limit recreational opportunities, clog waterways, lower land values, create …


    Weed Control - Jan. 10, 2012, 3:02 p.m.

  9. Hoary alyssum

    Berteroa incana Hoary Alyssum - Plant is usually silvery-gray in appearance due to stellate hairs. 1-3.5 feet tall and functions as an upright annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial.Leaves: Plant has basal leaves that are larger and oblanceolate. Leaves gradually reduce in size moving up the stem with alternate leaf arrangement.Flowers: Blooming from May-August. Flowers bloom from the bottom up in simple or branches clusters. Petals are white and are two times longer than sepals and are deeply cleft. 6 stamens per flower.Habitat: Plant is adapted to dry conditions. Usually is found in overgrazed pastures, stressed meadows, roadsides, and waste areas. …


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

  10. Class Cs of Note

    Class C noxious weeds are often very common and widespread or are of special interest to the agricultural industry. They are not required for control unless selected for at the county level. The Lewis County Weed board has selected 5 species off of the C list for control under specific circumstances, as outlined in the appendix and presented below.The Class C's that are selected for or commonly found in Lewis County include: Blackberry Buffalobur Bull Thistle Canada Thistle Common Catsear Curlyleaf Pondweed English Ivy & Old Man's Beard Field Bindweed Italian Arum Oxeye Daisy Reed Canarygrass Tree of Heaven Wild …


    Weed Control - Oct. 5, 2022, 10:43 a.m.