Noxious.

I've been identified as noxious. Or at least parts of my garden are.

While I was at work today, my home was visited by the Integrated Weed Management Coordinator for the Noxious Weed Control Program from the Plant Division of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. He left his card and a brochure on Orange Hawkweed, titled: BEAUTIFUL INVADER ALERT!

Apparently the lovely wildflower I was so pleased to see returning in various places in my gardens is an invader. I quote: "This is a priority noxious weed; report sites to the Oregon Department of Agriculture immediately... Document site locations using either local landmarks or GPS coordinates."

The description of the flower is not so pretty:

 Orange hawkweed is a perennial weed with above-ground runners (stolons) that root at the tips. Roots are shallow and fibrous. The plant grows up to 12 inches tall and contains milky juice. The vibrant orange-red colored flowers are clustered at the top of a leafless stem. Stiff, black, glandular hairs cover flower stalks. Leaves are hairy, lance shaped, up to five inches long, and exclusively basal.

Frankly, anything with stiff black glandular hairs covering it is not welcome in my garden, so I have to dig it all up. Or use Round-Up. (You know when the Ag Dept. is advocating Round-Up, it's a nasty plant.)

I actually should feel pretty special, as this plant is very limited in Oregon, in fact: "a few ornamental plantings have been reported and confirmed in Deschutes County." I guess they mean me.  "Infestations are subject to eradication" though I notice they didn't actually do the dirty work themselves.

So, if you see this plant, (a.k.a. Devil's Paintbrush) call 1-866-INVADER immediately. I am not kidding. That's the number. You've been warned.

photo courtesy of Jim Schultz