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.
Permission is granted for educational use only, not for sale

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.
 Cover Page 1
Photo by Heidi Bohan 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.
Each card includes the following information:
Color images: Images of the plant in young and ma- Flower color and code: A bar indicating the
ture stages, its form and flowering structures, and key flower color is found on the side of the card.
identifying field characteristics most useful to identify Color images and relevant text are also found
these plants. Associated text helps describe the focus of within the body of the card. When attempting to
the image. identify a plant using flower color, the colored
Management strategies: see cover pages 2-3 bars can be used to quickly sort the cards.

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
Photo by Heidi Bohan
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

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
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.
© Starflower Foundation 2006

Cover Page 2
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.

Noxious Weed Status: Management Strategies See cover page 3 for additional information
Where applicable, we have included designa- • Eradication required by law (Class A)
tions for plants which are on the Washington • Always remove Sample
•Taproot: remove all fragments
‘Primary spread’
State and King County Noxious Weed lists. This information helps to identify the primary
• Primary spread: Seed, Stolons
• Eradication required by law (Class A): Non- Note: Can dominate shady areas ways in which this plant reproduces and
native, invasive species whose distribution is still spreads. This information is useful in schedul-
Check with parks department or school district for proper
limited. Eradicating existing infestations and ing removal and planning removal methods.
preventing new infestations are the highest priority Seed: This plant spreads broadly by seed. Carefully remove seedheads
• Control required by law (Class B): Non-native, invasive species which prior to formation of seeds. If seeds have formed, carefully contain seeds
are abundant in portions of Washington state. Prevention and contain- while handling during removal.
ment of these weeds is the primary goal so that they do not spread into Stolons: These are stems that spread horizontally and root where nodes
uninfested regions. touch the soil. The parent plant often provides nourishment until the new
• Non-designated Noxious Weeds: Non-native, invasive species whose plant is fully established. These plants often form dense colonies. Frag-
control is recommended by King County Noxious Weed Control, but is ments of stolons can root and form new plants.
not required. Rhizomes: These plants have stems and roots which spread underground, re-
Photo by Heidi Bohan

• 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 Note: Important information relevant to weed management.
to fully eradicate prior to planting.
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.
© Starflower Foundation 2006

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.
Fibrous Roots
Fibrous roots:
Hand tools are gen-
erally all that are
needed to remove the
weed along with its
rootball, effectively
killing the plant.
Thickened Root Structures
Tap roots:
Use a trowel or mat-
tock to remove all
taproot fragments.
Small taproot
Deep taproot
Rhizomes
Rhizomatous roots
Use a hand mattock or
Shallow
digging fork to loosen the
rhizomes soil; carefully remove all
fragments.
Thick rhizomes
Management Strategies
• Eradication required by law (Class A)
• Always remove Sample
•Taproot: remove all fragments
• Primary spread: Seed, stolons
Note: Can dominate shady areas
Check with parks department or school district for proper disposal
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.
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.
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.
Stolons Stolons
Use hand tools to remove most fi-
brous roots and all above ground
vegetative matter. Stem fragments
may resprout so remove thoroughly.
Cover Page 3
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.
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.