General: Kochia (Bassia scoparia) is an invasive shrubby annual. The plant grows upright with inconspicuous flowers, and the linear leaves are gray-green and covered with long, soft hairs. The flowers lack petals, but the sepals are radial and 5-lobed. The lobes are hairless or with few hairs. The stems become reddish towards the end of the growing season.

Kochia is a nasty, invasive weed that is an uncommon component of disturbed semi-desert vegetation. Around Las Vegas, this species is uncommon -- let's all work to make sure it stays that way.

Keep an eye out for this species. Land managers are actively working to eradicate Kochia, so hopefully you won't see it anywhere. Kochia is on the "Watch Weeds" list in the Lower Las Vegas Wash.

Family: Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae).

Other Names: summer-cyprus, burning-bush, fireball, burningbush, Mexican fireweed, mock cypress, Kochia scoparia.

Plant Form: Shrubby annual.

Height: To about 4 feet.

Stems: Many; turn red towards the end of the growing season.

Leaves: Gray-green, lanceolate. Leaves to about 2-inches long, narrow (to 3.5 mm wide), flat. Lower leaves 3 to 5-veined.

Flowers: Inconspicuous. Flowers grow along the stem; petals none; sepals radial, 5-lobed, without hairs or with few hairs.

Seeds: Small, flat, remain enclosed in sepals.

Habitat: Disturbed upland area, roadsides, pastures, gardens.

Elevation: To about 4,000 feet.

Distribution: Throughout North America. Native to Asia.

Comments: This invasive weed can be toxic to livestock.

For More Information: DiTomaso, J.M., and E.A. Healy. 2007. Weeds of California and other Western States. University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Publication 3488. 2 Vol. ISBN 978-1-879906-69-3.