Roosevelt Weed, Poverty Bush, False Willow

Description:

Roosevelt weed is a tall shrub with many willow-like branches covered with very dark green, partly evergreen, linear leaves, less than 1/4 inch wide and up to 3 inches long. After warm rains in late summer it produces a profusion of creamy white flower clusters which are followed by silvery plumed seeds that cover the plant with a white cloud. Male and female flowers on separate plants. Female flowers inconspicuous, silky, in small, greenish white heads which appear to be individual flowers, these arranged in large clusters up to 1 foot or more long and 8 inches wide, resembling silky plumes in October and November. Fruit, minute, about 1/16 inch long, borne on the wind by a tuft of hairs. It grows from N. Carolina to Arizona, and throughout Texas except in deep East Texas and the High Plains. Roosevelt weed is one of the first plants to invade abandoned fields, roadsides and disturbed habitats. It is extremely drought tolerant, accepting wet or dry sites, and can grow in soils high in salt.

Habitat:

Shoreline if Belton Lake

Notes:

The historical references of its common names purportedly come from the fact that after the great Dust Bowl, it was planted as a fast and easy way to revegetate the severly damaged soil. But the qualities that made it useful then make it an increasing problem now. Both B. halimifolia and B. neglecta have become aggressive invaders of rangeland and disturbed sites from the Blackland Prairie to South Texas, and in other western states as well, so plant them - or any seep willow - intentionally only with great caution, if at all. They spread fast, quickly overtaking forage plants, and their deep roots use up a disproportionate amount of water. They are also very flammable. Once established they are very difficult to eradicate, since livestock avoid them and they produce seeds prolifically.