Anchorage Daily News

Right about now, this invasive plant stands 4 to 9 inches tall. But in a few weeks it'll spurt up 2 or 3 feet and burst with attractive yellow flowers -- similar to snapdragons -- and beg to be picked and taken home. Resist this temptation.

THE OFFENDER: Thank a Welch Quaker who landed in Delaware with William Penn for introducing this invasive perennial of the figwort family known by many aliases: common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), yellow toadflax, butter and eggs, wild snapdragon. The garden ornamental quickly flourished in colonial gardens before spreading into the wild.

Yellow toadflax tolerates low temperatures and easily adapts to a range of habitats: sandy or gravely or disturbed soil in roadsides, railroads, pastures, cultivated fields, rangelands and clear-cuts. Its pale-green, lancelike leaves are soft and linear, with up to 25 vertical stems that bloom from May through August. The deep taproot and creeping root system also allow hardy competition for soil moisture.

A mature plant can produce up to 30,000 flat-winged seeds annually from July to October.

NOXIOUS NOTORIETY: Toadflax colonies spread rapidly and dominate native grasses and other perennials. A recent study showed a 418 percent increase in a single season.

PREVENTING THE SPREAD: Pull these golden goblins -- roots and all -- before seed production begins. But remember that cutting the above-ground portion only reduces the current growth and doesn't kill the plant. Also, seeds remain dormant for up to 10 years, so repeat this hand-pulling process every year for at least a decade to remove a stand.

Frequent tilling or cultivation also helps. Over two years, try eight to 10 hand hoedowns the first year and four to five the second year.

MORE FLOWER FOR YOUR BOWER: Starve and dry out these invasives by planting or replanting -- according to sunlight and moisture conditions -- with such hardy perennials as lady's mantle, monkshood, columbine, English daisies, larkspur, lilies, lupine, blue poppy or phlox. In a forest understory, try ferns and native grasses.

TRASH AND BURN: Yank the plants by their roots. Toss single stems in the trash. Removing stands of toadflax requires more elaborate handling to prevent seed spread. In this case, torch large piles or double-bag for the trash or landfill. By all means avoid the lawn mower, which will only scatter the seeds.

J. Mark Dudick is a communications specialist at the UAF Cooperative Extension Service office in Anchorage.

BIG WILD WORRIES: For more information about yellow toadflax or other invasive weeds, log on to the Integrated Pest Management program at www.uaf.edu/ces/ipm/vicr.html or call 1-907-786-6300 to report a sighting or drop off a sample. Download a pocket Alaska weed guide at

www.alaskainvasives.org

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