What Coltsfoot does to the habitat

Not very popular in trend setting states: Banned in Connecticut, Prohibited in Massachusetts, Quarantined in Oregon. Declared an invasive, it needs to be contained.

Management

Pull by hand until seed bank expires. "Glysophate Round Up will also do the job.

DESCRIPTION

Botanical Glossary

Tussilago farfara is an herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 0.5 m (1.6 ft.), but is usually smaller. It has spreading rhizomes that allow for clonal growth. The leaves of this plant are long petioled and cordate to suborbicular in shape. They have a deep, narrow sinus and the margins are callous-denticulate and have shallow lobes. They are 5-20 cm (2-8 in.) long and the same in width. The tops of the leave are glabrous, while below they have white, short, matted, woolly hairs. The yellow flowers of Tussilago farfara are present on scaly scapes that are sent up by the rhizomes in early spring before the leaves develop. Like many members of the Asteraceae, the flowers have many rays. The heads of the flowers are first cylindric in shape and then expand to be about 3 cm (1.2 in.) in diameter. The bracts beneath the flowers (known as a involucre) are 8-15 mm (0.3-0.6 in.) in diameter. The flowers mature into white balls of tufted seeds similar to dandelions. The seeds are 0.3 cm (0.125 in.) long, cylindrical in shape and yellow or red brown in color. Page References Fernald 1525, Gleason & Cronquist 560, Holmgren 528, Magee & Ahles 1007, Newcomb 358, Peterson & McKenny 110.