Although Tuesday is usually the day I post all the wonderful photo gifts from you, my friends, today I shall continue yesterday’s post with the answer to my mystery weed.
Unable to to find a ‘for certain and sure answer’ I decided to chop out part of the plant and take it over to our neighbor who is an expert weed master. Paul and his son have a very successful spraying business.
Grabbing my trusty shovel, hopping onto the four-wheeler I drove down to the Priority Ditch and chopped out a large section of the plant—roots and all. Then I drove on over to our neighbor and politely asked for help in identifying this unusual grass.
“Goodness!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t know we had that invasive weed here. We’ve had information on this plant for a couple of years now, but haven’t seen it so far!”
Turns out this is a nasty invasive weed, sometimes planted as an ornamental in people’s yards. It’s hardy to Zone 3.
Needless to say that plant has been chopped out and dumped into the burn barrel!!!
Thank you everyone for your help! Because of the alarm bells that rang out loud and clear from you everyone in our neighborhood will be on the lookout for this exotic plant. Shovels and buckets and burn barrels will be Rabbitfoot Grasses new friend.
Tomorrow I will showcase my photo gifts,but for today I bring you this weed update. 🙂
Your friend on a Western Colorado farm
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
and you shook the seeds all over your land and your neighbor’s too. 🙂
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Glad you found out! I was curious because we have it here too. I see it a lot at the farm.
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It looks familiar, but I didn’t know what it was. I remember it in fields where I grew up. Glad you were able to find out quickly. Sadly, I see something growing and am delighted–wonder what it could be–only to find it popping up everywhere! It’s good to get rid of it early.
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It looks helpless and harmless, doesn’t it?
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I figured that it must be invasive since so many of us around the country have seen it… Glad you found out –and GLAD you got rid of it… Keep watching that area though since more may be lurking!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
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We have problems here in the UK with Japanese Knot weed.
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Rabbit’s Foot Grass sounds like it should be lucky, but apparently not…. Glad you got out ahead of it.
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Glad you found out what it was! Kinda a pretty plant too.
Most invasive weeds start as ornamentals…..
Cheri
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Glad to hear you found out! It’s kind of funny (and sad) how so many weeds start out as people’s prized plants. When we first moved to Iowa we were admiring a tiny spot of creeping charlie in our yard when we were told it was a terrible weed. Sure enough, we found out!
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You’re going to need to keep your eyes peeled; the fact that you found it growing in a waterway means the seed has washed down from somewhere higher up the supply, and it won’t be the only one. But at least now you’re on the alert.
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More trouble with aliens. Bet they didn’t have green cards when they came across the water.
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I’m sure I’ve seen that before; just can’t remember where or when. Thanks for the info. I should check the Ag website and see what they have to say, too.
Have a great evening!
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Good catch, Linda!
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So glad you found out what it was and got rid of it:)
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Too bad! It really is a pretty little “ornamental”. Those seed heads are just masters at spreading themselves to the four corners of the earth—especially sitting in a ditch full of water.
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Wow. You and your knowledgeable blog friends saved Colorado! (It’s still pretty though.) I seriously do understand how dangerous invasive species are to the environment though. There are so many things in Florida (plant and animal) that don’t belong and are crowding out the natives. Everything thrives in that greenhouse climate it seems like. A plant has to be hardier to get a foothold in your area though — hopefully you stomped (or pulled) it out permanently!
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