1. Eggleaf Spurge

    Euphorbia oblongata Eggleaf Spurge - Upright perennial growing about 3 feet tall. Has a woody, branched taproot. Plant stems covered in fine white hairs.Leaves: Alternate and hairless leaves that are oblong and finely toothed. Prominent midvein is visible.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-July. Clustered flowers with a few male flowers and one female flower. Clusters have yellow bracts (scales) at their base followed by a whorl of yellowish green leaves.Habitat: Typically found in damp meadows, streambanks, shadow woodlands, dry hillsides, roadsides, and waste areas.Weed Classification: AWhy is it a Noxious Weed?Originally introduced as a garden ornamental. This plant is invasive and …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:46 a.m.

  2. Flowering Rush

    Butomus umbellatus Flowering Rush - An emergent invasive with a very limited distribution in Washington state that can sometimes stay submerged. Can grow up to 5 feet tall.Leaves: - Thin upward growing leaves that often twist when above the surface of the water and reach 3+ feet in length (when plant is emerged and much longer when it is submerged). Leaves have a triangular cross section.Flowers: - Blooms June - September with umbrella shaped clusters of 20-50 flowers that have 3 sepals and three white to deep purple petals.Habitat: - Can appear in a variety of habitats and is often …


    Weed Control - Sept. 12, 2022, 1:31 p.m.

  3. Hydrilla

    Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla- Very similar in appearance to our native elodea (Elodea canadensis) and to Class B noxious weed Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa), this aquatic perennial is especially problematic in waterways and attempts to mechanically control will often perpetuate its spread.Hydrilla vs Native Elodea fact sheet from the New Jersey Water Supply AuthorityLeaves: Whorled formation of 3-10 (but most often 5) leaves with sharply toothed margins. There are often spines along the reddish midrib giving the plant a "velcro" feeling when pulled.Flowers: Transparent to white, female flowers with petals of 3 are attached to the stem tip by a slender …


    Weed Control - Sept. 26, 2022, 1:13 p.m.

  4. Yellow Archangel

    Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow Archangel - Evergreen to semi evergreen plant that grows very quickly. It is mostly a trailing perennial, though it can grow upright if climbing other plants.Leaves: Opposite and oval shaped. Toothed and hairy typically with silver-gray markings.Flowers: Flowers bloom from April through June. Flowers are small, yellow, and two lipped. The upper lip is hooded, and the lower lip has orange/brown markings. Flowers grow in whorls.Habitat: Yellow Archangel can grow in shade or sunlight. Can sometimes escape people's landscaping into nearby forests, greenbelts, and riparian habitats.Weed Classification: B SelectWhy is it a Noxious Weed?Escapes easily from gardens …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:49 a.m.

  5. European Coltsfoot

    Tussilago farfara European Coltsfoot - a rhizomatous perennial that forms intricate colonies and grows up to 18" tall.Flower: Flowers bloom from March - May. The solid yellow flower looks somewhat like a dandelion, but on a stem absent of any basal leaves. The stems are unbranched and each produces a single flower.Leaves: Basal leaves emerge after flowers begin going to seed. They vary in size from 2-12" and grow from the rhizomes in rosettes. They also have a big variation in size and can be heart shaped, orbicular, or triangular, and have a narrow indentation at the base. The margins …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 9:45 a.m.

  6. Class A Priorities

    Class A noxious weeds are LCNWCB's highest priority for early detection and rapid eradication. The legal requirement for Class A weed control is total eradication of all plant parts. These weeds are either absent in Lewis county or are here with very limited distribution. The only class A species that is currently known to be present in Lewis County is a single infestation of Milk Thistle, which was found in a common dumping area of Centralia. Historically, there have been records of Giant Hogweed in Lewis County, but these, to the best of our knowledge, have been eradicated.The Class A's …


    Weed Control - Sept. 29, 2022, 10:42 a.m.

  7. 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.

  8. Scotch Broom

    Cytisus scoparius Scotch Broom - Everyone's favorite noxious weed! A woody perennial shrub that has many branches. Plants can range from 3-10 feet tall.Leaves: Scotch Broom has few leaves. The upper leaves are simple with the lower leaves being 3 parted. Leaves are pointed at each end and can fall early in the year, leaving bare, green stems.Flowers: Flowers bloom from March through June. Typical pea family flowers in shape. Bright yellow in color with 5 petals.Habitat: Typically, can be found along roadsides, in pastures, grasslands, and open areas with recent soil disturbance.Weed Classification: B SelectWhy is it a Noxious …


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

  9. Tree of Heaven

    Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven - A deciduous tree growing up to 60 feet tall. Plant parts may be identified by a distinctive peanut butter/popcorn smell.Leaves: Leaves are compound and alternate, and each leaf has anywhere from 10-27 leaflets usually. Leaflets are mostly smooth-edged, except for a few rounded teeth and a visibly large gland on the underside, towards the base of the leaf.Flowers: Flowers bloom from May-July. Trees will either have male or female flower clusters at the tips of the stems with the male flowers being larger. Flowers are light green-yellow in color.Habitat: Commonly found near forest edges, …


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

  10. Himalayan Knotweed

    Persicaria wallichii Himalayan Knotweed - A clumping perennial with hollow stems and creeping rhizomes. It grows about 6 feet in height.Leaves: Leaf shape is elongated compared to other knotweeds and are around 5-12 inches in length. They are leathery and alternate along the stem.Flowers: Flowers bloom from July-October. Whiteish pink flowers that are fragrant grow at the tips of branches.Habitat: Grows in disturbed, moist sites like roadsides, riparian, and wetland areas.Weed Classification: B DesignateWhy is it a Noxious Weed?This plant vigorously grows into dense stands that overtake native vegetation and alter ecosystems. It can survive severe floods and spread plant …


    Weed Control - Oct. 5, 2022, 4:16 p.m.