What is this weed in my Northern Colorado garden? - Ask Extension
Hello,I have found this week growing like crazy in my garden. I live in Loveland, CO. It looks a lot like flixweed (or Descurainia sophia), but flixwe...
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What is this weed in my Northern Colorado garden? #341809
Asked July 11, 2016, 3:44 PM EDT
Hello,
I have found this week growing like crazy in my garden. I live in Loveland, CO. It looks a lot like flixweed (or Descurainia sophia), but flixweed looks like it has leaves that protrude from the stem by themselves, where as this plant seems to continue down the stem, each leaf actually being connected to the other, rather than separated by clean stem. I have not let it flower, I try to pull it out before then, but I found one today that had gotten past me and started to bud. The bud is small and white and fuzzy looking. My neighbor said cowboys in Wyoming call it rosin - but when I googled that I do not think this looks like that either. Please help!
I have found this week growing like crazy in my garden. I live in Loveland, CO. It looks a lot like flixweed (or Descurainia sophia), but flixweed looks like it has leaves that protrude from the stem by themselves, where as this plant seems to continue down the stem, each leaf actually being connected to the other, rather than separated by clean stem. I have not let it flower, I try to pull it out before then, but I found one today that had gotten past me and started to bud. The bud is small and white and fuzzy looking. My neighbor said cowboys in Wyoming call it rosin - but when I googled that I do not think this looks like that either. Please help!
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
This is skeletonleaf bursage (or woolly bursage). It's a really difficult weed to control. Is it in your landscape beds? If so, your only methods of control would be to pull it, mulch it or use glyphosate (Roundup). It has a huge root system, so persistence is key. And definitely prevent it from flowering.
This is skeletonleaf bursage (or woolly bursage). It's a really difficult weed to control. Is it in your landscape beds? If so, your only methods of control would be to pull it, mulch it or use glyphosate (Roundup). It has a huge root system, so persistence is key. And definitely prevent it from flowering.
Thanks Alison! That is absolutely what this is! It is indeed in our garden beds. I pull it very frequently, hoping to pull it as young as possible before it gets much energy to the roots. I'm hoping through the seasons I can do some damage to the root system and slow it from coming back.
