Stem
- Generally grows 2-5 ft. tall; highly branched with numerous stems that arise from the crown
Leaves
- Pinnately-compound with 5-8 pairs of leaflets; leaflets are oval to lance-shaped, 0.5-1.5 in. long and lack hair (glabrous); edges (margins) are smooth
Flower
- Purple to white, less than 0.5 in. long and clustered on stalks at tips of branches
- Pods are 1-2 in. long and contain numerous seeds
Root
- Non-spreading taproot; roots associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Photo of goatsrue seed pods
Other
- Grows best in moist areas; often found in fencelines, pastures, roadsides, marshy areas and along waterways; not known to occur in Nevada
- Native to the Middle East; introduced to northern Utah as a potential forage plant but was found to be unpalatable and highly toxic to livestock
- Listed on the Federal Noxious Weed List
Control
- Hand removal of individual plants can limit spread of small infestations; mowing and tillage (particularly shallow tillage) are NOT effective
- Apply 2,4-D, dicamba or triclopyr to actively growing plants; apply aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron or picloram pre- or post emergence
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B.
2020,
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Goatsrue,
Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide