Stem

Multiple stems up to 3 ft. tall; woody base; often branched near top; sometimes hairy

Leaves

Alternate; strap-like (linear), 1-2.5 in. long, 0.1-0.2 in wide and lack hair (glabrous) to sparsely hairy; NO leaf stems (petioles); DO NOT clasp the stem; edges (margins) are smooth

Flower

Snapdragon-like; 0.5-1.5 in. long, bright yellow to white with an orange bearded throat and a yellow spur; clustered along upper part of stem
Seed capsules round with two chambers, 0.3-0.5 in. diameter, contain many seeds

Root

Creeping root system

Other

Grows best in coarse soils; often infests rangelands, waste areas and roadsides; known to occur in Elko, and Storey counties
Perennial; reproduces by seed and creeping roots
Toxic to livestock if ingested in large quantities; historically used as a medicine, a dye and an ornamental
Also known as “butter and eggs”

Control

Mechanical control (mowing, burning or tillage) is NOT effective
Several biological control agents are available
Apply 2,4-D, aminocyclopyrachlor, chlorsulfuron, glyphosate, imazapyr, metsulfuron or picloram to actively growing plants; imazapic shortly after first killing frost

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

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch

Also of Interest:


Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Dalmatian toadflax Dalmation toadflax is a noxious weed that has been identified by the state of Nevada to be harmful to agriculture, the general public, or the environment. Learn more about this weed. Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Yellow toadflax