Scotch Broom

Scotch Broom has been seen blooming all over the county. According to the Washington State Website for Invasive Species;

Scotch broom crowds out native species and negatively impacts wildlife habitat. It can form dense, impenetrable stands that degrade farmland, prevent or slow forest regeneration and restoration of upland sites and wetland buffers, and create fire hazards. Scotch broom produces toxic compounds, which in large amounts can cause mild poisoning in animals such as horses.

This invasive species tries to take over areas that have been disturbed by logging and along seeds drift in and establish large sections along riverbanks.

This picture shows where the scotch broom takes root along the base of hills, this started out as one tiny plant several years ago and has grown to a 1/4 acre. The patch on the hilltop is where logging cleared the area about five years ago, threatening the new stand of fir trees that are being overtaken by the Scotch Broom.

The plants are now about 8 feet tall with bases so tough it takes a chainsaw to cut them down or a bulldozer to push them out. The plants grow faster than the trees that have been replanted since harvest and are choking out the seedling alders and large leaf maples along with the replanted fir trees. Scotch broom vegetation dot edges of natural fir stands and take over the area. Grass cannot grow around the scotch broom that is so dense. Most animals do not like the taste and do not graze on the foliage or the flowers.

A recent hiking blogger commented on all the beautiful yellow flowers that cover large areas of land in this area. He did not realize that he was describing the invasion that is threatening the wildlife, the natural vegetation, logging and farming in the West.