Looking Back: Vipers Bugloss Be Gone

You have probably noticed that “Echium vulgare” is showing up more and more around the Pass. In fact this nasty invader is spreading at an alarming rate along roadsides, right-of-ways, pathways, back yards and alleys, pastures and just about anywhere it can send down its cast iron two- foot taproot. It loves disturbed ground and coarse, sandy and gravel surfaces.

What you may or may not realize is that this foreigner is taking over the countryside and displacing a lot of natural unweedy types.  While their purple-blue, funnel-shaped flowers may seem quite attractive, don’t be deceived by this non- native, noxious, sneaky blue blight.  It is an invasive noxious weed and is particularly destructive to the native environment of the Pass.

The spotted knapweed is an allelopathic weed that makes the soil around it more acidic so that other weeds cannot grow in the surrounding area. Echium vulgare or blue weed, on the other hand, is a little less sophisticated but just as effective as knapweed. It spreads out rosettes in its first year on the ground that smothers any other plant that tries to grow anywhere near it.  In the second year then comes that colourful tall flowering stalk. Each individual stalk of this prolific invader can kick out up to 2,800 seeds.   It’s kind of like rabbits. Just a few get things going and then all of a sudden there’s a problem. Only this problem could, if left unchecked, completely alter the landscape of the Crowsnest Pass.

I am reminded of the H.G.Wells’ novel, “War of the Worlds”, in which the Martian red weed swept over the planet. It eventually succumbed to a terrestrial pathogenic bacteria along with the Martians. In the case of blue weed, its arrest will only happen as a result of a concerted effort by many parties includ-ing Joe citizen.  Given its ability to spread from just one plant, it is really important to dig out and bag any plant in flower and the nearby rosettes that will transform into one the next year.  There is clear evidence on places like 23 avenue in Coleman that it is on the move in every direction.  This is one gnarly plant and getting it out of the ground and hopefully most, if not all, of the tap root, takes some work. It has a pretty good bite, so gloves are important.  

 The blueweed is a smart and highly invasive plant and has been known to flower and seed at different times. We are getting close to their seeding now so that is why I suggest to you that it is the respon-sibility of every single one of us to do our part. When it shows up in your flower beds or back alley pounce on it. In your wanderings about the Pass if you spot a patch of it take the time to rip it out.  An ignored blueweed will soon become a patch you can’t ignore.

The municipality’s role in this is the assessment and removal of all sorts of invasive species in and around the Pass. The job lies with Grace Thomas of MCNP Environmental Services and as administra-tor, she, along with a summer student, have the huge job of trying to manage the weed issue.  They are charged with administering the Weed Control Act, Soil Conservation Act and the Agricultural Pest Act.  You can file an on-line complaint at city hall including pictures if you choose to do so. They are pretty busy but will eventually get back to you and address the issue. 

ES staff host weed pulls every Wednesday morning, in the months of June, July and August, that tar-get riparian areas in particular. Lyon, Drum, Gold, Nez Perce and the Crowsnest River all need seri-ous attention.  They supply the gloves and the feeling one gets when an area has been cleaned up is very rewarding. It really helps when people pitch in and the ES Wednesday weed pull schedule is available on-line. For private owners it also helps if they remove and manage weeds up to the curb on their properties. That is where a lot of blueweed takes purchase and spreads. 

 Blueweed is also called viper’s bugloss but that was also the name of a lovely little moth in the United Kingdom that the government declared extinct in 1998 due to habitat destruction.  Wouldn’t it be nice to say someday that the plant version of viper’s bugloss is also extinct in this area!

You know the old saying.  “I can’t do everything, but if everyone does something, everything will get done.” We as individuals can’t wipe this blue blight out but working together as a community we can make sure it doesn’t get to an unmanageable level.