Class B noxious weed in the state of Washington. Poison hemlock is a very tall biennial plant that can grow up to 12 feet in height. It grows into a rosette the first year–a cluster of leaves growing on the ground and then flowering stems the next year. (Resource)

Look out for the hairless purple blotches on the stems. This plant is toxic to humans and animals.

Easily confused with wild carrot which does not have red blotches on the stems and is hairy.

You’ll want to break out the hori hori for this weed. Make sure you get all of the roots or it will keep coming back.

Quack grass produces rhizomes (root-like shoots that spread underground) with sharp points. These are the ones you’ll want to follow through your garden bed until they are all removed. It thrives in disturbed soils which is likely most parking strips or untouched areas around Western WA.

(Resource)

Creeping Bentgrass is commonly found in lawns. They have long and slender leaves, a lighter shade of green compared to bluegrass.

This weed also grows with underground rhizomes and needs to be controlled before it takes over your entire garden bed.

Class B regulated weed in the state of Washington. It is highly toxic and invasive. It is a biennial or sometimes a winter annual or perennial herbaceous plant. It keeps you guessing.

Tansy is also a look alike for Common Tansy. We recommend wearing gloves when removing this plant, as all other toxic weeds should be handled carefully.

(Resource)

Commonly known as Shotweed, this little guy is easy to recognize. When you go to remove these after they’ve flowered and gone to seed, they will mechanically eject (or spray) their seeds all over your face and the ground.

The best time to remove these is before they flower!

Everyone’s lawn nemesis. We don’t dislike dandelion, but it can make it hard for native plants to settle into a new garden. Known for their globed shaped seed heads which fly through the air after people blow on them to make a wish!

Also a medicinal herb, the entire plant is edible. So maybe you could harvest it for your salad or cook up the roots.

Tuft with basal rosette of wide leaves, long flower spike. Leaves widely oval, 2–7 in. Flowers small, white, soon fading to brown as seedpods develop. Found in all disturbed places, including lawns and gardens, at low to mid elevations. (Resource)

It is lower on the list of concerning weeds as it is also considered a medicinal herb. If you do harvest it, be sure to make sure you harvest from a chemical-free area. Their leaves and flowers also produce a natural dye which can be suitable for eco-printing!

A common, non-native perennial weed in King County, often found in disturbed soils, wet areas, roadsides, and gardens. (Resource)

They have wavy margins and produce tall flower stocks with red stems and rusty brown seed heads when dry.

This can also be used for natural dyes. Toxic to livestock and can irritate humans skin.

Spreading by underground rhizomes, this weed can sometimes feel impossible to get control of. The key is to remove it before it flowers. Sheet mulching can help make removing the rhizomes easier.

It can be identified by its arrowhead leaves. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for more than 50 years so that’s why it’s important to prevent it from flowering (Resource).

Evergreen perennial vine, seeds after flowering. Commonly seen everywhere in the Pacific Northwest. It can climb hillsides, trees, houses, anything really. It easily outcompetes most plants and can be catastrophic. Please pull your ivy and leave none behind.

Shiny Geranium have tiny pink flowers that will absolutely cover your lawn and or pretty much anywhere on your property. It can be difficult to control so remove it as soon as you can. It is on the Noxious Weed list.

You know her well, English Holly. Word of advice, pull it while it’s young because once it becomes a tree it will be hard to get rid of. Definitely on the Noxious Weed list, but listed as Class C.

Birds will eat the seeds and spread it. You may think its pretty, but its spiny and not worth it. Rip it out!

Sticky Weed will do just that, it will get stick to other plants and it will stick to you. They will use this ability to spread their seeds. It commonly cascades over other plants and can shade out low growing plants.

Fairly easy to hand remove!

A perennial commonly found in very wet sites. This is worth sharing, “This plant is aggressive and able to spread over 40 square feet in 1 year.” It spread by rhizomes and seeds

They don bright yellow flowers that look like our native Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis) which we love and highly recommend over Creeping Buttercup. Pull it early.

Bull thistle is a bully. It is a perennial that outcompetes native vegetation and finds its home in distubed soils.

It spreads by rhizomes and seeds. Hand pulling is recommended, but make sure you wear gloves because this ones spiny! Prevent flowering by removing, but if you can’t beat it, cut the flower off then remove the crown later.