Noxious weed alert: Mediterranean Sage begins to bloom in early spring

The Colorado Department of Agriculture works to stop the spread of noxious weeds across the state through a coordinated effort to detect and eradicate new invaders as well as manage well-established species. Currently, there are 74 species of plants in the state that are designated “noxious,” meaning they pose a threat to the state’s agricultural productivity, wildlife habitat and native plant communities.

This month, we feature a noxious weed that begins to bloom in early spring: Mediterranean Sage.

Treatment: Since Mediterranean sage reproduces solely by seed, it is imperative to prevent seeds from producing while also depleting the soil seed bank. Combining mechanical and herbicide treatments to rosettes or bolting plants can be very effective.

What you can do: If you see this plant, please contact your county weed management program or CDA. County weed programs are a tremendous resource for treatment of specific weeds in specific counties. Find your county contact at www.colorado.gov/ag/coweedcontacts. You can also e-mail CDA at [email protected].

Background: Mediterranean sage is designated as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act. It is required to be eradicated wherever it is found in the State. Mediterranean sage is native to the Mediterranean region and northern Africa. Mediterranean sage invades primarily rangeland, but will easily invade riparian areas, forests, roadsides and dry pastures. It adapts to a wide variety of environmental conditions and quickly displaces native vegetation.