Starflower Foundation Habitat Restoration

WEED Identification Cards

for the Pacific Northwest

For the Field Identification of Weed Species of Concern in the Pacific Northwest

©Starflower Foundation 2007 Developed by Heidi Bohan, et. al.

History Starflower Foundation was founded in 1996 by Ann Lennartz with the mission of assisting with the creation, rehabilitation and stew-ardship of Pacific Northwest native plant communities by supporting citizen-driven restoration and education projects that inspire un-derstanding, appreciation and preservation of Pacific Northwest native ecosystems, with humans as an integral part of these ecosystems. Over its 10-year history, Starflower worked on 18 urban habitat restoration projects in Seattle, Washington. A core of committed vol-unteers, with the vision of restoring an area of their neighborhood park or school grounds with Pacific Northwest native plant communi-ties, was at the center of each project. As an operating foundation, Starflower supported design, implementation, and maintenance ser-vices. During all phases of the projects, the foundation pursued a restoration strategy to fast-track the successional process and strove for a high level of species diversity. Each project featured a significant educational component. A list of the projects follows: Seattle public parks: Colman, Frink, Genesee, Greg Davis, Madrona Woods, Magnuson, Mee Kwa Mooks, Pritchard Beach, Roxhill and Seward. Elementary schools: Dearborn, Dunlap, Hawthorne, Northwest Montessori, Pathfinder, Roxhill, and Sanislo Middle schools: Environmental & Adventure School, and Washington Middle School These Habitat Restoration Weed ID Cards for the Pacific Northwest were developed by Starflower Foundation to assist with long-term stewardship of the projects and to promote Pacific Northwest native plant landscapes and stewardship. The species list for these cards comes from our experience with Seattle urban habitat restoration projects where the goal was to create self-sustaining Pacific Northwest native plant communities. Valuable feedback from the stewardship community shaped the size, content, and layout of these cards. The images on these cards focus on seasonal, key field identification characteristics. The card for each species may be downloaded and printed individually from the Washington Native Plant Society’s website at www.wnps.org. The files are intended for color printing, preferably using a laser printer to obtain the highest quality prints. Laminating the cards is recommended for long-term use in the field.

Credits We thank Heidi Bohan for her excellent work in developing these cards. In addition, our sincere thanks go to the following Starflower staff and interns for their contributions: Chris Behrens, Sandy Fry, Griffith Gilbert, Scott Groce, Sonja Lutring, Megan MacClellan, Jeremy Valenta, Cynthia Walcker, and Anne Yen. Thanks also to Jim Kolb for his guidance and editing.

Legal Use © Starflower Foundation. Permission is granted for educational use only, not for sale.

Permission is granted for educational use only, not for sale

Each card includes the following information:

© Starflower Foundation 2006

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Flower color and code: A bar indicating the flower color is found on the side of the card. Color images and relevant text are also found within the body of the card. When attempting to identify a plant using flower color, the colored bars can be used to quickly sort the cards.

Habitat Restoration Weed ID Cards These cards are intended for use on native plant habitat restoration sites in the Seattle urban area to assist in identifying plants to be removed during weed-ing management stewardship activities. This list has been compiled over 10 years of project stewardship experience at Seattle parks including Genesee Meadows, Pritchard Beach, Greg Davis, Roxhill, Colman, Magnuson, Madrona Woods, Dearborn and Seward Park. This set of cards includes the most common and important weeds, however, it is not comprehensive and other resources may be needed to identify less common weeds.

General: Includes information about the plant type, its life cycle and the general range of size this plant attains. The definition of terms includes: Annual: A plant whose life cycle is completed in one year Biennial: A plant whose life cycle is completed in two years Perennial: A plant which lives over many years Evergreen: A plant which retains vegetation through the year Deciduous: A plant which loses its leaves during its dormant season

Common name: The most commonly used non- scientific name/s in regular use in the Seattle area. Scientific name: The most current name generally used by profession-als, and found in widespread publications. Non-native: Plant that was not present prior to European contact in the mid 1700’s. WPGS: #- The page number on which this plant is found in Wild Plants of Greater Seattle by A.L. Jacobson. This is provided as a quick refer-ence for more information

Form: Includes shape and configuration information. The defini-tion of terms includes: Rosette: A generally symmetrical, flat arrangement of leaves from a single start-ing point, like a flower. Common with biennials as first year form. Basal clump: Similar to a rosette, but not symmetrical or flat, with leaves aris-ing from a common point forming a compact mound or clump. Basal clump or rosette with single or branched stalk: Flowering stalks arising from a basal clump or rosette. Often the second year form of biennials. Spreading clump: Leaves and stems arise from a spreading clump, generally found in plants that spread by rhizomes or stolons (see cover page 2). Single or branched stalk: Plant arises from the ground in a single or branched stem. Stalks can be nearly leafless to leafy, and generally support flowers. Vine: A plant having a flexible stem supported by climbing, twining or creeping along a surface.

Native or Non-native Look-alikes: This box is an alert to be aware of plants which are commonly mistaken for the target species, particularly during weeding stewardship. For more detailed information refer to Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and Mackinnon, Wild Plants of Greater Seattle by A.L. Jacobson, or other resources.

Color images: Images of the plant in young and ma-ture stages, its form and flowering structures, and key identifying field characteristics most useful to identify these plants. Associated text helps describe the focus of the image. Management strategies: see cover pages 2-3

Cover Page 1

© Starflower Foundation 2006

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Noxious Weed Status: Where applicable, we have included designa-tions for plants which are on the Washington State and King County Noxious Weed lists. • Eradication required by law (Class A): Non-native, invasive species whose distribution is still limited. Eradicating existing infestations and preventing new infestations are the highest priority • Control required by law (Class B): Non-native, invasive species which are abundant in portions of Washington state. Prevention and contain-ment of these weeds is the primary goal so that they do not spread into uninfested regions. • Non-designated Noxious Weeds: Non-native, invasive species whose control is recommended by King County Noxious Weed Control, but is not required. • Weeds of Concern: King County recognizes these weeds as invasive and recommends control and discourages new plantings.

For more information: Washington State Weed Control Board: www.nwcb.wa.gov

King County Noxious Weed Control: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/Weeds

‘Always Remove’ We have included this recommendation for plants whose invasiveness and potential for ecological damage warrants the highest priority for removal and prevention of establishment. Generally these are plants whose rhizomes, stolons or seeds are so persistent and/or aggressive that once established they will require a concentrated effort for permanent removal. If these weeds are present on a new restoration, all efforts should be made to fully eradicate prior to planting.

The ‘Management Strategies’ information box provides information helpful in prioritizing weeding efforts and techniques for removal. Weeds should be re-moved as soon as they can be accurately identified. In some cases this may not be possible until they have formed a flower or seedhead. Removal of seedheads before dispersal is imperative, as most weed seeds remain viable for many years, creating a ‘seedbank’ that can be difficult to control.

‘Primary spread’ This information helps to identify the primary ways in which this plant reproduces and spreads. This information is useful in schedul-ing removal and planning removal methods.

Seed: This plant spreads broadly by seed. Carefully remove seedheads prior to formation of seeds. If seeds have formed, carefully contain seeds while handling during removal. Stolons: These are stems that spread horizontally and root where nodes touch the soil. The parent plant often provides nourishment until the new plant is fully established. These plants often form dense colonies. Frag-ments of stolons can root and form new plants. Rhizomes: These plants have stems and roots which spread underground, re-emerging at a distance from the parent plant to establish as new plants, which then send out new rhizomes. These plants tend to form large colonies. Taproot: These plants have thickened roots that extend down into the ground, sometimes branching into forked roots. These taproots store food and if they are not fully removed can form new plants. Bulbs and Corms: These plants have thickened stems that form rounded structures that store food and energy through the dormant season and produce new leaves and roots in the next growing season. They multiply by dividing into smaller bulbs and corms which produce new plants.

Management Strategies • Eradication required by law (Class A) • Always remove •Taproot: remove all fragments • Primary spread: Seed, Stolons Note: Can dominate shady areas

Check with parks department or school district for proper

Sample See cover page 3 for additional information

Note: Important information relevant to weed management.

Cover Page 2

Weed Disposal Thorough weed management includes proper dis-posal of weeds after removal. When planning weeding stewardship on public lands it is necessary to work with appropriate agencies to create a plan for the disposal of the weeds (see the Code below). Problem weeds are successful because they are highly adapted for survival, often reproducing effec-tively by more than one means, under adverse and varied conditions. Seeds can remain viable for many years, and many thickened roots, rhizomes and stolons can remain dormant and grow upon re-exposure to growing conditions, sometimes even after a long period of time. Proper disposal is critical. Class A & B noxious weeds should be put into plastic trash bags and disposed of in the regular gar-bage (not the clean green yard waste or composted). Weeds of Concern or Non-Designated Noxious Weeds may be composted or put into clean green recycling. Composting at high heat (130 degrees or higher) will kill most weed seeds and decompose vegetative mat-ter. Placing weeds in low piles on impervious surfaces and covering entirely with black plastic during the summer can kill and decompose most vegetation.

Management Strategies • Eradication required by law (Class A) • Always remove •Taproot: remove all fragments • Primary spread: Seed, stolons Note: Can dominate shady areas

Check with parks department or school district for proper disposal

Sample Weed Root Types

The type of root system possessed by the plant is described in text and by icon in order to identify the proper eradication method. The icons and methods are described below. See cover page 2 for definitions.

Tap roots: Use a trowel or mat-

tock to remove all taproot fragments.

Thickened fibrous roots: Handtools and spades should be used to remove all major roots. Do not leave any major thick roots as they may generate new growth.

Fibrous roots: Hand tools are gen-

erally all that are needed to remove the weed along with its rootball, effectively

killing the plant.

Fibrous Roots

Rhizomes

Thickened Root Structures

Stolons

Rhizomatous roots

Use a hand mattock or digging fork to loosen the soil; carefully remove all

fragments.

Stolons Use hand tools to remove most fi-brous roots and all above ground vegetative matter. Stem fragments

may resprout so remove thoroughly.

Small taproot

Deep taproot

Washington State Code 16-752-515: No permit is required to transport plants or plant parts, as a part of a noxious weed control activity, to a sanitary landfill, to be burned, or otherwise for disposition, if such activities are conducted under the supervision of an official weed control agency or other public agency with management responsibilities for the control efforts and are conducted in such a manner that seed dispersal or dispersal of propagative mate-rials to uninfested areas is prevented.

Cover Page 3

Deep rhizomes

Use a shovel, spade or digging fork to carefully remove all deep running rhizomes and

roots. Fragments are likely to resprout, reinfesting the site.

Bulbs and corms: Use a trowel or shovel to

remove all corms and bulbs. Carefully sift

through the soil to find small bulblets and corms.

Shallow rhizomes

Thick rhizomes