Stem

  • Multiple stems up to 3 ft. tall; woody base; often branched near top; sometimes hairy
Photo of Yellow toadflax

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 
Photo of Yellow toadflax plant with yellow flowers on top
 

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
Photo of Yellow toadflax yellow flower

Root

  • Creeping root system
Photo of Yellow toadflax plant

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

Extension Associated Contacts

 

Also of Interest:

 
Photo of dalmatian toadflax plant
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