Alberta has changed its Weed Control Act with an expanded list of 75 undesirable plants.
Three weed categories, restricted, noxious and nuisance, have been replaced with two categories of prohibited noxious weeds and noxious weeds. There are 46 prohibited noxious weeds and 29 noxious weeds.
Prohibited noxious weeds are either not currently found in Alberta or are found in a few locations where eradication is possible. Under the act, a person has a responsibility to destroy a prohibited noxious weed.
A noxious weed is widely distributed and can cause economic hardship once established.
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Many were started as ornamentals or arrived with the early settlers, said Tim Dietlzer, agricultural fieldman with Rocky View County.
Dame’s Rocket, a purple flowering plant on the prohibited weed list, is a member of the mustard family that produces thousands of seeds. It was introduced from Europe and is common in damp soil along roadsides, rivers, fences, ditches and forests.
Field scabious has a clover-like head and produces thousands of seeds. It is a perennial and grows about a metre high, favouring moist and wooded areas.
“Nothing totally kills it,” said Dietzler.
It likely came to Western Canada in hay from the east to feed horses and mules working on the railroad.
Yellow iris takes over riparian areas with its large tuberous root system.
“It is not the typical iris out there.”
For more information, contact 780- 422-1881 or visit www.wheatlandcounty.ca.
