Weeds Gone Wild

Once desired by the horticultural trade for being a fast grower and a hearty survivor, the tree-of-heaven is now considered a Class C noxious weed in Washington. It’s an attractive tree with its grayish bark, and small clusters of light green or yellow flowers. But its fast growing and reproductive nature has caused it to outcompete native plants, along with allowing it to come up
along forest edges, woodlands, fence rows, roadsides, railroad embankments, old fields, and urban parks. The tree-of-heaven also leaches a variety of allelochemicals into the soil that have demonstrated toxic effects on neighboring plants. It’s a prime example of an invasive plant that can end up causing serious problems in waterways, fields, pastures, or urban settings. All states have a list of problematic plants. With summer being the prime time for family vacations and cross country road trips it’s good to be aware of that, and that those “beautiful plants” along the roadside might not be the best thing to bring back as a souvenir. That lovely plant might end up being not only your yard’s, but your state’s worst nightmare. Don’t be the cause of “weeds gone wild”.