Weeds and Problem Plants

African mustard (Brassica tournefortii)
Grows in sites with dry, sandy soils and sparse vegetation; often infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties. Key Characteristics: tall; yellow flowers; long tap root.
Learn more about AFRICAN MUSTARD

African rue (Peganum harmala)
Infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Churchill, Mineral, Washoe, and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: Woody stem; spiked leaves; small, white flowers; dispersed taproot
Learn more about African rue

Austrian fieldcress (Rorippa austriaca)
Infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Churchill, Mineral, Washoe, and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: round leaves, seed pods, white and yellow flowers.
Learn more about Austrian fieldcress

Barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis)
Infests rangelands, grasslands, pastures and croplands; known to occur in Washoe county. Key Characteristics: Grey-green leaves, purple seed pods, fine white or green hairs.
Learn more about Barbed goatgrass

Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
Grows on open sites with well-drained soils; often infests roadsides, waste areas, field borders and pastures; known to occur in Clark, Elko, Eureka, Lincoln, Nye and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: Lance shaped leaves, sticky hairs, seed pods, short.
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Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare)
More information coming soon.

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Camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum)
Grows best in areas where it can access additional water during the growing season; often found in field borders, roadsides and along waterways; known to occur in Clark and Humboldt counties. Key Characteristics: Woody roots, pink or purple flowers.
Learn more about Camelthorn

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Grows best in moist areas; often found in pastures, hay fields, waste areas and along waterways; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics:  Tall, spikey plant with round, purple thistle flowers.
Learn more about Canada thistle

Common crupina (Crupina vulgaris)
often found in rangeland, pastures, waste areas, roadsides and along waterways; no known occurences in Nevada at this time (2024).
Learn more about Common crupina

Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)
Grows on coarse-textured, gravelly, well-drained soils; known to occur in Elko county. Key Characteristics: Thick taproot, perennial, yellow flowers.
Learn more about St. Johnswort 

Crimson fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum)
Grows in climates with mild winters; often infests disturbed areas such as roadsides, desert areas, washes or waste areas; occurs in Clark county. Key Characteristics: Long stems, tall purplish bristles, can be drooped.
Learn more about Crimson fountaingrass

Curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Grows in ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, reservoirs, irrigation ditches and marshy areas; known to occur in Churchill, Douglas, Elko and Lyon counties. Key Characteristics: Submersed aquatic plant, spread aggressively.
Learn more about Curlyleaf pondweed

Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)
Grows in dry, well-drained soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Douglas, Elko, Lincoln, Nye and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: tall, grows in stem clusters, yellow flowers.
Learn more about Dalmatian toadflax

Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)
Grows best in dry, well-drained soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, Washoe and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: thick taproot, white or purple flowers.
Learn more about Diffuse knapweed

Dyer's woad (Isatis tinctoria)
Grows well on a broad range of sites; often infests waste areas, roadsides, rangeland, pastures and crop fields; known to occur in Elko, Humboldt and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: Wavy to smooth leaves, brown seed pods.
Learn more about Dyer's woad

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Most common in still or slow-moving water but can sometimes be found in fast-moving rivers, streams and irrigation ditches; known to occur in Carson City, Douglas and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: Submersed, aquatic plant, long stems.
Learn more about Eurasian watermilfoil

Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
Grows along lake shores, slow-moving rivers and streams, irrigation ditches and wetlands; no known occurrences in Nevada at this time (2024). Key Characteristics: Wetland plant, large pink flowers.
Learn more about Flowering rush

Giant reed (Arundo donax)
Grows best in moist soils; known to occur in Churchill, Clark, Mineral, Nye and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: Resembles bamboo, long stems, aquatic.
Learn more about Giant reed

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Grows in areas that do not experience extended periods of freezing temperatures; not known to occur in Nevada at this time (2024). Key Characteristics: no true roots, no flowers, aquatic plant.
Learn more about Giant salvinia

Goatsrue (Galega officinalis)
Grows in moist areas; often found in fencelines, pastures, roadsides, marshy areas and along waterways; not known to occur in Nevada at this time (2024). Key Characteristics: Introduced to Utah as a potential forage plant, purple or white flowers.
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Hoary cress (Cardaria spp.)
Grows best in disturbed, alkaline soils; often found in pastures, fields, roadsides, rangelands, waste areas and along waterways; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics: includes two varieties of white-top, white flowers.
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Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)
Grows best in sandy, well-drained soils; often infests crop fields and pastures; no known occurences in Nevada. Key Characteristics: 1-3 feet tall, perennial, lance-shaped leaves, white flowers, spikes.
Learn more about Barbed Horsenettle

Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Grows  in moist areas; often found in pastures, roadsides, fencelines, waste areas and along waterways; known to occur in Elko, Lincoln and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: Individual leaves are rounded, wedges, purple flowers, burrs.
Learn more about Houndstongue 

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
More information coming soon.

Learn more about Hydrilla

Iberian starthistle (Centaurea iberica)
Grows in sites with dry, sandy soils and sparse vegetation; often infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties. Key Characteristics: Also known as Sahara mustard, short plant, rosette leaves.
Learn more about Iberian starthistle

Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Grows best in moist soils; often found in crop fields, pastures, fencerows, roadsides, and along waterways; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln, and Lyon counties. Key Characteristics: Deep roots, tall plant, grows in grass clusters.
Learn more about Johnsongrass

Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)
Grows in grasslands, rangeland, pastures, roadsides, wheat and alfalfa fields; grows well in compacted soils; known to occur in Churchill, Elko and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: grows in tufts or clusters, spikelets, jointed look.
LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINTED GOATGRASS

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)
Grows across a wide range of sites; often found in pastures, waste areas, rangelands, field borders and along waterways; known to occur in Elko, Humboldt, Washoe and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: green, yellow clustered at tips of stems, yellow flowers.
Learn more about Leafy spurge

Malta starthistle (Centaurea melitensis)
Often infests rangeland, pastures, crop fields, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties. Key Characteristics: branched and wirey plant, small thistle flowers with spiked appearance.
Learn more about Malta starthistle 

Mayweed chamomile (Anthemis cotula)
Grows best on disturbed sites; often infests roadsides, waste areas, landscaped areas and crop fields; known to occur in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: white flowers, yellow center, odor when crushed, bushy plant.
Learn more about Mayweed chamomile

Mediterranean desert knapweed (Volutaria tubuliflora)
Grows best on disturbed ground and seasonally flooded sites; no known occurrences in Nevada at this time (2024). Key Characteristics: Pink flower clusters, leaf rosettes, rapid growth.
Learn more about Mediterranean desert knapweed

Mediterranean sage (Salvia aethiopis)
Often infests rangeland, roadsides and waste areas; not known to occur in Nevada at this time (2024). Key Characteristics: Gray-green; densely covered with white hairs, white flowers, 1-3 feet tall.
Learn more about Mediterranean sage

Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)
Grows best on clay soils; primarily infests rangeland; known to occur in Churchill, Elko, Humboldt, Lyon, Pershing, and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: grass plant grows in clusters or tufts, tufted durable ends.
Learn more about Medusahead

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)
Often infests roadsides, pastures and waste areas; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics: Also known as nodding thistle. Purple thistles are common but pink and white also occur.
Learn more about Musk thistle

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
Grows best on moist sites; often found in floodplains, pastures, meadows, hay fields and along waterways; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics:  White flowers, also known as tall whitetop. 
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Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Grows in moist, fertile soils; often infests crop fields, gardens, waste areas and ditch banks; known to occur in Washoe and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: Creeping roots, yellow flowers, tall plant up to 6ft.
Learn more about Perennial sowthistle

Poison-hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Grows in moist sites; often infests crop fields, waterways, roadsides and waste areas; known to occur in Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: White, umbrella flowers, fern like leaves.
Learn more about Poison-hemlock

Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)
Often found in still or slow-moving water; not known to occur in Nevada (2024). Key Characteristics: Also known as goathead, Mexican sandbur, Texas sandbur and tackweed. Yellow flowers, woody burrs.
Learn more about Puncturevine

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Grows best in wet areas; often found in marshes and along the edges of pond and waterways; known to occur in Storey and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: showy pink or purple flower stalks with yellow center flowers.
Learn more about Purple loosestrife 

Purple starthistle (Centaurea calcitrapa)
Grows best in sites with heavy, fertile soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; not known to occur in Nevada at this time 2024. Key Characteristics: Closely resembles Iberian starthistle, pink and purple flowers, branched and bushy, spikes.
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Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)
Grows best in well-drained soils; often infests roadsides, rangelands and waste areas; not known to occur in Nevada at this time, 2024. Key Characteristics: Deep taproot and shot creeping lateral roots, yellow flowers, rosette leaves resemble dandelion.
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Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens)
Grows in a range of sites; found in rangeland, waste areas, roadsides, near waterways; occurs throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics: Causes “chewing disease” in horses, creeping roots, flowers are purple, pink or white, each located at the tip of a branch.
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Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)
Often found along edges of waterways, lakes and ponds; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics: Shrub or small tree; multiple large stems arise from root crown; up to 20 ft. tall, white or pink flowers.
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Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium)
Often infests pastures, rangeland, roadsides and waste areas; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics: Grey green leaves, white to purple flowers, each located at the tip of a branch.
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Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)
Often in rangeland, roadsides, waste areas and crop fields;  known to occur in Clark, Elko and Nye counties. Key Characteristics: Toxic to livestock and humans; also known as white horsenettle; star shaped, yellow centered purple or blue flower.
Learn more about Silverleaf nightshade

Spotted knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii)
Grows best on dry, well-drained soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur throughout Nevada. Key Characteristics: Up to 4ft tall, rough textured, white or purple flowers at the tip of the branch, deep thick taproot.
Learn more about Spotted knapweed 

Squarrose knapweed (Centaurea virgata var. squarrosa)
Often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Elko and Humboldt counties. Key Characteristics: Woody stems, up to 2ft high, pink or purple flowers. 
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Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
Often infests rangeland, pastures, roadsides and waste areas; not known to occur in Nevada, 2024. Key Characteristics: Woody tap root and branches, pale yellow flowers, palm like leaves with 5-7 leaflets.
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Swainsonpea (Sphaerophysa salsula)
Often infests roadsides, fencerows and irrigation ditches; not known to occur in Nevada, 2024. Key Characteristics: Potential contaminant of alfalfa seed due to similarities; also known as Austrian peaweed; tall and woody; showy, pea-like flowers.
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Syrian beancaper (Zygophyllum fabago)
Often infests rangeland, roadsides and desert areas; not known to occur in Nevada, 2024. Key Characteristics: 5 petals, white to cream colored with a pink or orange tinge; each on short stalks at upper leaf; distinctive pods.
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Ventenata (Ventenata dubia)
Grows in open, disturbed areas and along roadsides; can establish on bare, dry soils; known to occur in Elko, Eureka and Washoe counties. Key Characteristics: Wire-like and grass-like; unpalatable to livestock as seedhead develops; winter annual.
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Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
Infests rangeland, pastures, croplands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine counties. Key Characteristics: Yellow flowers, covered with cotton-like hairs.
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Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
Grows in coarse soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Elko, and Storey counties. Key Characteristics: Also called “butter and eggs”; yellow, white, or orange snapdragon-like flowers.
Learn more about Yellow toadflax