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Class B Noxious Weed

Common Catsear
Hypochaeris radicata
 

common catsear


Plant family: Compositae (Asteraceae)
Year listed:
Native to: Europe

Why is it a noxious weed?
A serious weed of lawns, pastures and waste areas. It is extremely aggressive in lowland pastures and lawns. It is also thought to be poisonous, and is believed to be the cause of Australian Stringhalt in horses.

How would I identify it?
General Description: Common catsear is a perennial with rosettes of leaves. 

Leaves:

  • rough, hairy
  • lobed or wavy-margined

Flowers:

  • yellow
  • 1 - 1.5 inches in diameter

Stems:

  • hollow
  • exudes white milky sap when broken or cut

How does it reproduce?
Common catsear reproduces by seed, crown and root sections.

Where does it grow?
Information goes here

What is the distribution in Washington State?

 

 

 

Click on map to enlarge.
  • Common catsear has been documented throughout western Washington, it has also been documented in eastern Washington, although distribution is not as widespread. Refer to the map for distribution levels in specific counties.
  • Distribution map is based on 2003 data.

How do I control it?

General control methods:

Cultural: Scattered plants in lawns can be spaded out below the crown in early spring as soon as the leaves appear. Badly infested field should be cultivated 1-2 years before reseeding. Rotating legumes with row or cereal crops is the most practical way of controlling common catsear in legume fields.

Herbicide: Please refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

Mechanical: Information not available at this time.

Biological: None known.

Are there plants that may be confused with Common Catsear?
May be confused with common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).  If you need help with plant identification, please contact  your county noxious weed coordinator.

 

For more information
For more information, download our Written Findings.

 

More Photos-Coming Soon!
 
           
           

 Last updated September 08, 2008