Yellow Toadflax
Linaria vulgaris
Perennial12 to 24 in
Yellow flowers with an orange, bearded throat that look like small snapdragons.
Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.
Saltcedar
Identification
Saltcedar
Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.
- Life cycle
- Shrub or small tree
- Height
- 5 to 20 ft
Saltcedar is a small tree or shrub, 5 to 20 feet tall. Leaves are small and scale like. Flowers are pink to white with 4 or 5 petals, depending on the species.
It is an ornamental that has naturalized along streams, rivers and canals in the West. Large plants transpire more than 200 gallons of water per day, drying up ponds and streams.
Monoculture growth severely limits wildlife diversity. It is also known as tamarisk.
Control
Controlling saltcedar
- Best timing
- Triclopyr works when applied in spring or late fall.
- Mowing and pulling
- Burning and bulldozing have not worked. After herbicide, leave the top growth in place for three years so the plant does not resprout.
- Herbicide
- Imazapyr (Arsenal) is the most widely used, and it can be mixed with a water labeled glyphosate. Triclopyr (Garlon) is another option.
- Biological control
- Not recommended in North Dakota. The leaf beetles have not consistently reduced infestations.
Always follow the product label, and check rates in the North Dakota Weed Control Guide from NDSU. Your county weed control officer can tell you what fits your land. Source: NDSU Extension W1411 (December 2025).
Keep Looking
Other weeds on the state list
Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea maculosa Lam.
Biennial or short lived perennial1 to 3 ft
Pinkish purple flowers with dark fringed bracts. Takes hold fast on disturbed ground.
Houndstongue
Cynoglossum officinale L.
Biennial1 to 4 ft
Burred seeds that cling to animals and clothing, and a plant that is toxic to cattle and horses.
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