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Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.

Public Works

The following is a list of species known to be present or have the potential to infest Thurston County. It is approved and updated annually by the Thurston County Weed Board. 

For inquiries about adding species to the list, contact tcweeds@thurston.wa.gov.us

Noxious Weed Classifications

In accordance with WAC 16-750, eradication is required for these species. 

Class A Species are generally:

  • Newly introduced to the state
  • Limited in distribution/ not yet established
  • Required for control by landowners

In accordance with WAC 16-750, control is required for these species. 

Class B Species are generally:

  • More established than Class A
  • Still relatively limited in distribution within regions of Washington State
  • Required for control by landowners

Control is defined as routinely removing propagules or reproductive structures of the plant to prevent their spread. The goal with Class B is to prevent them from moving into unestablished areas.

In accordance with WAC 16-750, control is required when a Class C is selected by a local weed board.

Class C Species are generally:

  • Widely established within Washington State
  • May be selected for control within particular regions depending on local interest

Control is defined as routinely removing propagules or reproductive structures of the plant to prevent their spread. The goal with Class C is to prevent them from moving into unestablished areas.

Annual Bugloss 

(Anchusa arvensis)

field of annual bugloss in bloom

Brazilian Elodea 

(Egeria densa)

fragment of Brazilian elodea shown above a waterway. Bright green leaves whorl around a central stem

Common Bugloss 

(Anchusa officinalis)

tree

 

Common Fennel 

(Foeniculum vulgare)

alternating leaves on branching stem of common fennel

 

Diffuse Knapweed 

(Centaurea diffusa)

pink and white blooms on diffuse knapweed shown above spiny bracts

Eggleaf Spurge 

(Euphorbia oblongata)

bright green blooms present at tops of arching stems of eggleaf spurge

Floating Primrose-willow 

(Ludwigia peploides)

oval to egg shaped leaves with white veining creep along a muddy shoreline

Garden Loosestrife 

(Lysimachia vulgaris)

yellow blooms of garden loosestrife shown against its green leaves

Garlic Mustard

(Alliaria petiolata)

garlic mustard shown in bloom. bright green, triangular leaves with toothed edges bolt. small, white flowers with four petals emerge at the ends of stems

Giant Hogweed 

(Heracleum mantegazzianum)

bright green, finely divided leaves of giant hogweed begin to bolt. purple spots line the hairy stem

Gorse 

(Ulex europaeus)

green thorns of gorse showcase the yellow, pea-shaped blooms on its spine

Hanging Sedge 

(Carex pendula)

sedge with long green slender leaves growing in an understory

Knotweed

(Polygonum spp.)

heart shaped leaves of knotweed shown growing on stems

Lesser Celandine

(Ficaria verna)

bright yellow blooms of lesser celandine spotted in grassy area

Meadow Knapweed

(Centaurea jacea x nigra)

bright purple blooms of meadow knapweed shown close up with copper brown bracts at the base

Meadow Hawkweed

(Pilosella caespitosa)

yellow blooms of meadow hawkweed against a grassy background

Milk Thistle

(Silybum marianum)

cluster of leaves growing in grass with white variegation and spined tips

Mouseear Hawkweed 

(Pilosella officinarum)

yellow blooms of meadow hawkweed against a grassy background

Orange Hawkweed

(Hieracium aurantiaca)

orange blooms of orange hawkweed against a grassy background

Parrotfeather

(Myriophyllum aquaticum)

whorled, finely divided leaves of parrotfeather arranged around stem growing in waterway

Poison Hemlock

(Conium maculatum)

finely divided, angular leaves of poison hemlock viewed zoomed in

Purple Loosestrife 

(Lythrum salicaria)

bright purple blooms clustered on a stalk at the top of purple loosestrife

Rough Chervil

(Chaerophyllum temulum)

finely divided leaflets present on rough chervil in front of white background

Rush Skeletonweed

(Chondrilla juncea)

spindly stems of rush skeletonweed cluster into a bush formation- shown in an open field

Scotch Thistle

(Onopordum acanthium)

close-up shot of bright purple tufty blooms of Scotch thistle, framed by spiny bracts underneath

Slenderflower Thistle

(Carduus tenuiflorus)

tight cluster of pink flowers atop the winged, spiny stem of slenderflower thistle- growing in pasture land

Spotted Knapweed

(Centaurea stoebe)

small pink-purple blooms of spotted knapweed, cradled by the black pointed bracts at the base. shown growing in rangeland

Spurge Laurel

(Daphne laureola)

dark green, waxy leaves of spurge laurel whorled around stem. plant is growing in shaded understory

Sulfur Cinquefoil

(Potentilla recta)

pale, sulfur yellow flowers with five petals bloom at tops of woody stems on sulfur cinquefoil

Tansy Ragwort

(Jacobaea vulgaris)

bright yellow, daisy-like blooms of tansy ragwort cluster at tops of stems

 

Variable Leaf Milfoil

(Myriophyllum heterophyllum and hybrids)

fine, feather-like leaflets of variable leaf milfoil whorl around a bright green stem

Wild Basil

(Clinopodium vulgare)

herb with fuzzy, egg-shaped leaves and purple blooms covers understory of natural area

 

Wild Chervil

(Anthriscus sylvestris)

finely divided, curved, carrot-like leaves of wild chervil shown up close

Yellow Flag Iris

(Iris pseudacorus)

yellow iris in bloom in wetland surrounded by long, blue-green blades

Yellow Floating Heart

(Nymphoides peltata)

yellow, star-shaped bloom perched above a wetland. small, heart-shaped floating leaves are pictured in the background

 

The noxious weeds listed above only includes weeds from the Noxious Weeds List which have been found in Thurston County. For a printable list of all species regulated by Thurston County, click here.