Stem

Up to 4 ft. tall; branched at top; dry plants with attached seed pods remain standing into winter

Dyer's woad flowering plant

Leaves

Lance-shaped, 1-7 in. long, bluish-green and lack hair (glabrous) with a distinct whitish mid-vein; edges (margins) are wavy to smooth, stem leaves are alternate with lobed base that clasps the stem

Dyer's woad rosette

Flower

Yellow with 4 petals; occur in clusters that give plant a flat-topped appearance
Mature seed pods dark brown to black, oblong, flattened and suspended from a small stalk; each contains a single seed

Root

Deep taproot

Other

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
Biennial, but sometimes annual or perennial; reproduces by seed
Historically cultivated for use as a blue dye and as a medicine

Control

Mow in early-flower to reduce seed production; spring tillage or digging individual plants prior to seed production can be effective
Apply 2,4-D to young, actively growing plants; apply aminocyclopyrachor, chlorsulfuron, imazapic or metsulfuronon pre- and post emergence

Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Dyer's woad, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Extension Associated Contacts

Heidi Kratsch

Also of Interest:


Marketing to Farmers’ Markets: Ideas for Market Vendors & Managers in Nevada. Cowee, M.W., K.R. Curtis, and H. Gatzke. 2009, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Special Publication, SP-09-10.
Attracting Vendors and Customers to Rural Farmers Markets This fact sheet offers strategies to attract and keep vendors and customers at rural farmers markets. Learn more about the vendor focus, increasing customers, the importance of marketing, and plan evaluations through detailed descriptions of each. Meier, A. 2009, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-09-18
Developing Farmers’ Market Volunteers (2008) This fact sheet offers strategies that can be applied to develop and retain a farmers’ market volunteer base. Learn about the importance of recruiting volunteers and the strategies to correctly do so. Meier, A. 2008, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-08-48
SNAP Guide for Nevada Farmers Markets and Direct Marketing Farmers In 2020 DFI began partnering with UNR Extension on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). The goal of SNAP-Ed in Nevada is to improve nutritional well-being by empowering SNAP recipients to make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose activ... Miller, A. and Moe, J. 2022, Desert Farming Initiative, University of Nevada, Reno
Nevada Farmers Markets Needs Assessment Discover the keys to unlocking Nevada's vibrant farmers! Farmers markets foster community engagement and support local agriculture, but many struggle with consumer outreach and marketing. This assessment unveils crucial insights into how to amplify their impact and nourish commun... Park, S.Y., Christiansen, E., Yun, G.W., Malik, S., Lindsay, A., Aldea, B., Purnell, S., Miller, A., Villasenor, R., Andrews, A., and Felts., T. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, SP-24-01

Associated Programs

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Master Gardeners of Washoe County

Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Garden plant and pest sprayers image by Olga Seifutdinova from Getty Images

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy that reduces pests to tolerable levels with lower costs for the pest manager or home gardener and minimal effect on the environment. The IPM program at University of Nevada, Reno Extension focuses on identification and public education with resources for the community including classes, Spanish language resources and a pest directory.

Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Dyer's woad