14 HOME & GARDEN, DAILY COURIER, Grants Pass, Oregon • FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 Top 5 take-over weeds often overlooked If you read through the list of noxious insects was initially prized. The Oregon where it is poisonous to livestock. weeds published by the Oregon Depart- Department of Agriculture named Buddle- St. Johnswort, Hypericum perforatum, ment of Agriculture, you may be surprised ja davidii as a noxious weed in 2010. is on the Oregon Department of Agricul- to see some old plant friends on the list. Butterfly Bush is a prolific seeder and ture noxious weed list. Tamer cousin St You may have been fighting to keep can easily spread by wind, water, or ani- John’s Wort, Hypericum kouytchense, is them under control mal contact. reportedly an invasive weed in Hawaii, but in your yard, but Reliably sterile varieties available that those who have a garden space where its Story by never considered are somewhat smaller and less showy aggressive nature can be successfully con- them weeds. Are than their invasive cousin are available. trolled may find it to be a useful ground Carolyn McCord they? More defini- And other attractive Buddleja cultivars cover that will grow when other plants tion of “weed” are available. Oregon State University struggle. Keeping control requires vigi- might help. provides information on landscape alter- lance. Avoid planting adjacent to woods, If you search online you will find that natives at pastures or untended land. Wikipedia says a weed is “a plant consid- landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu. • Scotch Broom, Cytisus scoparius, is a ered undesirable in a particular situation; • English Ivy Hedera helix is the lush common plant in our area but one to a plant in the wrong place.” green ivy ground cover and climber seen in avoid. A plant prized as an appropriate orna- numerous locations in Southern Oregon. It It cannot be stated better than this mental in one area may become an inva- can add charm to most any yard until it quote from the Oregon State University sive weed in another area. To further com- PAT BREEN/OSU takes over and becomes difficult to contain. website: “Caution: This species is often plicate our thinking about these invasive It is very aggressive if allowed to considered an invasive shrub-weed; it plants, called weeds by some, is that with- Hypericum or St. Johnswort is a escape into natural areas. You may love it establishes in abandoned areas and is very in the same plant family may be a close common ground cover, but hard until it climbs your favorite tree and competitive since it is a nitrogen fixer.” cousin that is not invasive and is not on to keep from spreading. inhibits its growth or even kills it. It may In February 2010, the Oregon Depart- the noxious weed list. be charming on your brick until it loosens ment of Agriculture amended its noxious Here is some help to identify some of the grout and damages the wall. weed quarantine (OAR 603-52-1200) to the more attractive and yet invasive with this beautiful plant, its ability to Cutting it back severely will not deter it include Cytisus scoparius and the rule offenders for our area. choke out pine seedlings and other benefi- for long and herbicides often do not kill it prohibits the growing or sale of Scotch • Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii is cial plants would eventually be felt eco- to the root and it will resurface from what broom in Oregon regardless of the variety widely loved by homeowners and butter- nomically. you thought was dead roots. or cultivar. flies alike, but this plant can be invasive It has a strong ability to withstand both Your garbage pickup company may Homeowners who find Cytisus scopar- and choke out native plants if it escapes mechanical and chemical controls so per- refuse to take it in your lawn debris cart. ius on their property should eradicate it to into the wild. sists vigorously in areas where conditions If you compost it, be sure it is dead before help stop the rapid growth of this plant in Islands in the Rogue River in Josephine are right. Multi-year treatments are neces- putting it in the compost pile or a seed or Oregon. It is considered one of Western County where conditions are good for this sary to control it if it gets established. It tiny piece may start a new plant despite Oregon’s most widespread and costliest plant have been identified as locations is considered among the top 20 noxious the heat of your pile. weeds. Its pollen also significantly affects where it has invaded. weeds in Great Britain where its benefits In 2010 the Oregon Department of Agri- allergy sufferers. There are cultivars that If our county were to become over-run as a nectar source for butterflies and other culture placed English Ivy under noxious are thought to be less aggressive, but sup- weed quarantine (OAR 603-52-1200). This porting data is minimal. ruling “prohibits the propagation, trans- Flowers colors range from white (‘San port, purchase, or sale of H. helix and H. Francisco’), pale yellow (‘Moonlight’), hibernica [in Oregon], regardless of the lilac-pink (‘Lilac Time’), orange and apri- variety or cultivar.” cot (‘Pomona’), to red (‘Stanford’).” If you do not already have it, rejoice! If • Armenian Blackberry Rubus armeni- you do have it, eradication may be difficult acus (also known as Himalayan blackber- if it is well established. Constant mainte- ry) is not a plant that most would choose nance includes ensuring adequate mois- to grow on our properties because of its ture since well irrigated plants do less negative characteristics. But many love to fruiting and spreading by birds. Trimming see it growing elsewhere because of its along perimeters, and trimming back any abundant crop of delicious berries prized Improve your upright, mature vines with blossoms or for pies and jam. fruit is essential. It is considered the most widespread financial landscape. • St. Johnswort, St. Johns Wort Hyper- and disruptive of all noxious weeds in icum is widely used as a ground cover Western Oregon. because of its large and attractive yellow Its rapid spread by birds and animals No sub-compact tractor works harder at flowers and hearty growth characteristics. and its reproduction through rooting or making your property yours than the Hypericum is widely sold in the herbal cane tips, root fragments, or seeds makes versatile Kubota BX1880. With the current medicine trade. But, buyer beware with it difficult to eradicate. Almost anything a purchasing offer, it can also improve the this lovely. She can like your space so well homeowner does is short-lived. Seed from that she will make it her own and there past years or pieces of roots left behind look of your finances. It’s what makes the isn’t much you can do to rid yourself of can start new plants, especially when the BX Series the #1 selling sub-compact her except strong chemical controls and soil is disturbed. tractor in America*. Visit us today. repeated digging. ——— It may also escape your civilized yard Carolyn McCord is a Josephine County and invade forest edges and pastureland OSU Extension Master Gardener. The Armenian $ DOWN % APR MONTHS or Himalayan 0 0 60 blackberry quickly escapes Central Equipment and threatens fences, yards 3008 Biddle Rd., Medford, OR 97504 • (541) 779-7443 and wild lands KubotaUSA.com all over western *Based on 2017 AEM/EDA data. © Kubota Tractor Corporation 2019. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 mos. on purchases of select new Kubota BX80 equip. from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is avai lable to qualified Oregon. purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions ap ply. Example: 60 mo. pymts. of $16.67 per $1,000 financed. Offer exp. 6/30/19. See us or go to KubotaUSA.com for m ore info. EDITH DECKER Daily Courier.