My burs stick to clothes and hair,
I dominate nitrogen-rich soils without a care.
There’s a clean-up program all for me,
to keep Whistler weed-free!
I Spy in the Sea to Sky…
This plant has sticky purple burs that cling to nearly everything, and was unintentionally introduced to North America from Europe. The burs that this plant produces were actually the inspiration for Velcro! Can you guess what it is?
It’s Common Burdock (Arctium minus)! It flowers from June to August, and produces its sticky burs from September to October. It likes to grow in moist, nitrogen-rich soils, and in disturbed areas, so watch out for it along roads, diches, and riparian areas. Common Burdock is widespread in the Sea to Sky region, and the goal is to strategically control Common Burdock to minimize its impact in specific locations. This plant is also one of Whistler’s Usual Suspects.
Common Burdock can be easily identified by several distinctive features:
- 2.5cm wide, purple on green circular-shaped burs, that turn brown when mature.
- Large, heart shaped leaves with wavy edges and a hairy underside.
- An upright, highly branched stem that grows up to 3m tall.
- A thick, fleshy taproot.
I see Common Burdock everywhere! Can I do something about it?
If you’re based in Whistler, consider joining our Banish Burdock volunteer program. It’s a fun way to get involved in your local community and remove some pesky invasive species from your neighborhood.
Otherwise, you can also remove it yourself: all you need is a shovel and a positive attitude! Be sure to remove the entire taproot, as Common Burdock can grow back if even a small portion of the root is left in the soil. Another temporary option is to deadhead the plant by cutting off its flowerhead with loppers or pruners to prevent its seeds from spreading. Once you remove it, just be sure to put the plant material in the garbage, NOT the compost!
Check out our Invader Eliminator Kit to see other invasive plants you can easily remove on your own.
Why is Common Burdock such a concern in the Sea to Sky?
Common Burdock is an aggressive spreader with no natural predators in our area. It spreads by seed, producing 6,000 to 16,000 seeds per plant! Common Burdock leaves are also allelopathic, which means they contain chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants, preventing native species from germinating.
This plant is also a host for powdery mildew and root rot, which can spread to farmer’s crops and reduce their crop yield.
Occasionally, birds and bats can get tanged into its sticky burs, and die because they are unable to escape.
If you want to know what you can do to help, read more about Common Burdock on its species profile page.
I Spy in the Sea to Sky Contest
Guess the invasive species in our I Spy in the Sea to Sky weekly social media post, June through August, to enter our giveaway.
At the end of each month, one lucky commenter will win a native wildflower seed mix packet! Follow us and comment on social media to participate!
CONTEST RULES:
- Comment your guess (common or species name) on the social media post (on Instagram or Facebook) to enter. Only correct guesses will qualify you for the giveaway.
- One entry per person per post.
- Anyone can play, but only Sea to Sky region residents can win.
- Entries will close at 11:59 PM PST on July 31th, 2024.
- Winners will be announced in the first week of August in an Instagram story AND contacted directly via their platform of entry.
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