Eastern Forest Threat Center - Kochia

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Kochia flowers

Kochia flowers

© John Randall, The Nature Conservancy

Kochia
Kochia scoparia

Kochia is native to southern and eastern Russia. In North America, it has been grown as an ornamental hedge around gardens, or used as a backdrop planting because of its dense, conical shape and attractive red color in the late fall.

Keywords: Chenopodiaceae, annual, green flowers, star-shaped fruit, flattened seeds, tumbleweeds; Common names: Mexican fireweed, burning bush, summer cypress

Distribution Map Distribution Source Image

Threat Description

Kochia is an annual plant with erect, much-branched stems that grow up to 7 ft. tall. Plants growing on dry or infertile sites typically average 2 ft. tall. Simple, alternate, linear to lanceolate leaves are 1-2 in. long, pubescent beneath, and glabrous above. Leaves are generally green, but change to yellow, red, and brown as the plant ages and dies. Small green flowers lacking petals are found in clusters in the axils of upper leaves and in terminal spikes. Kochia reproduces from single brown flattened seeds, about 1/16 in. long and contained in a star-shaped fruit. One plant can produce over 50,000 seeds per year under favorable conditions. Dead plants break off at the base and are blown by the wind as tumbleweeds that scatter seeds. Kochia has a main taproot and a network of finer roots. It can thrive in warm, low rainfall environments. Plants have a wide tolerance of soil types and are often found on saline/alkaline soils. Plants grow on grasslands, pastures, prairies, roadsides, ditch banks, wastelands, floodplains, riparian habitats, and cultivated fields. Kochia is able to spread long distances very rapidly. It is a competitor for light, nutrients, and soil moisture.