Japanese Chaff Flower is invading our landscape at an alarming rate!

This aggressive, invasive plant has been in the US only about 30 years, but has found its way to metro Atlanta, which is one of its 4 hot spots in the US. In just the past 2 years it has spread to almost every park where people are walking dogs, even along neighborhood streets and in people’s yards.

In the late fall, the smallish, narrow, green to tan colored seeds overhang trail edges and sidewalks and catch very easily on dog’s fur or human pant-legs, shoe-laces etc, and that’s how it spreads so easily. If you even gently brush against the seed-bearing stems, you can easily find 30 or more of the seeds attached to your clothing — ready to travel with you and colonize new territory!

Japanese chaff flower is just beginning to become established in many places in our area, from greenspaces and parks to back yards. But because we are catching it early, we have a good chance to eradicate it. It’s easy to spot and pull when it’s still fairly small. But we all need to help. Learn to identify this plant (see photos below) pull it out by the roots, and make sure you carefully put the seeds in sealed trash containers.

If we do not work to eradicate Japanese Chaff Flower now, in just a few short years it will dominate much of our landscape, destroying our native biodiversity.

There is a small outbreak of Japanese Chaff Flower at the edge of one of the lakes at Johns Homestead. Please join us at 3:30 PM on Nov 20 to help us remove this year’s growth from the park.

There is no cost to attend, but please RSVP HERE — details and directions will be sent to all participants – limit 20 people.

A donation of $15 or more helps sustain our programs.

Photos of Japanese chaff flower: top, National Park Service; three middle, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health; and bottom, Chris Evans, Univ. of Illinois.