Weed Watch - spotted knapweed

Be on the lookout for spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), one of the area’s least desirable and most competitive noxious weeds. This aggressive invader has deeply lobed, gray-green scratchy leaves on plants 1-to-4 feet tall. Its pinky-purple flowers look like a garden bachelor button. This exotic plant, introduced from Eurasia, out competes its native counterparts by giving off a chemical that effectively eradicates its neighboring plants.

Look for knapweed in disturbed areas adjacent to roadways. Wear gloves when pulling the plants because it is extremely irritating to the skin. Place the plants in garbage bags and throw them away.

Control of this invader is difficult. In addition to pulling, try spot spraying the plant with apple cider vinegar. Tilling helps, too. For more information, visit mtweed.org.

For information on submitting information to the city of Whitefish about potential noxious weeds, visit http://www.cityofwhitefish.org/report-an-issue/report-an-issue.php.