The British Yellowhead. A plant that is more like a weed in most countries than anything else. It has different names and can be found in different countries. However, the one thing that all of the countries have in common with this plant is the fact that it can take over, so fast and easily. And, getting rid of it is much harder than what you might think. This plant is a known invasive, and in this article we will talk about how to remove british yellowhead from your yard.
This is why it is important to make sure that you are getting all the right information about this plant, or weed as many know it. The more information you have, the easier it will be to get rid of the plant.
What is British Yellowhead?
The British yellowhead had a couple of different names. Many people know this plant as the British Elecampane, Elecampane, and Meadow Fleabane. The original name of the plant is known as the Inula britannica.
The yellowhead is native to Europe. However, it can be found all over the world and is known as one of the most common weeds that are bothering most yards. It is nearly impossible to remove permanently because of the type of roots the plant has.
British yellowhead length.
How to Identify British Yellowhead
The British Yellowhead is easily recognizable with the hairy leaves and the yellow flower. The stems of the plant are covered with hair. In some cases, one stem has more hair than other stems. The stems are thin and can grow up to 6 to 30 inches tall.
The leaves of the plant are elliptical to ovate elliptical and can be up to 6 inches in length. Also covered with hair, the leaves can be 5 times longer than the seed of the plant. During summer, the plant has yellow flowers that turn into a seed that is spreading through the wind.
Meadow fleabane flower.
Where can you find it most of the time?
As we said before, the plant is native to Europe. But, this is a known weed that can be found almost everywhere in the world. It is spreading easily and many people are taking seeds with them to other countries, without even knowing it.
It is also native in Asia and was introduced in America in the early 1900’s. The plant will easily grow in natural grasslands, wetlands, and riverbanks. As long as the plant has access to water, it will grow faster than what you might realize.
Medicinal and Food Value of British Yellowhead
There are no reports that the British yellowhead is poisonous to any animal or to humans. This is only a plant that can become an irritation because it grows so fast. People that are allergic to the grass, will automatically be allergic to the British yellowhead as well, because of the hair on the leaves and stem.
The interesting part of meadow fleabane is that it is being used for medicine as well. Many Chinese medicines are made from the flowers of the yellowhead or of the stem and leaves of the yellowhead. This is the medicine that was made from centuries ago and is still being made today. However, it is recommended that you don’t just take the yellowhead out of the garden and make your own medicine. Leave it to the professionals.
Why is British Yellowhead Invasive?
There are many reasons why the meadow fleabane is an invasive plant. It really can grow just about anywhere, where it can find water. This is why this is a plant or weed that can be found at wetlands, natural grasslands and at river banks.
It is really hard to remove the plant, but it’s easy to spread. The plant isn’t native to most countries, and because it is growing faster than people can get rid of it, it is known as an invasive plant. And this is one of the reasons why so many people are trying to get rid of British yellowhead before it can spread too far.
How does the plant spread?
The moment that the yellow flowers are drying out, the flowers turn into seeds. It is lightweight seeds that can get flown by the wind for miles. Meaning that it is spread from one place to another, by the wind. One flower has hundreds of seeds that will be flown in different directions and that will end up growing in different places.
Over time, a large area of field or grasslands will be covered with the meadow fleabane, just because of one flower. In some cases, animals can also carry the seeds from one place to another, because of the seeds getting attached to the fur and skin of the animals.
Remove British Yellowhead as soon as you spot it
It is important that you remove British yellowhead as soon as you see it in your garden. This is because it is an invasive plant, and it grows really easily and is hard to get rid of.
The longer you are waiting before you are going to get rid of the plant, the harder it is going to be. One plant is growing into a couple of plants in just a week or so. And, their roots are going really deep under the ground. Even, if you leave just a part of the root, it will grow back again and you will start all over again with the removing process. The other problem that you might have, is that even if you are taking the plant out as fast as possible, you might leave some of the seeds behind. Meaning that before you know it, you will have British yellowheads growing in your yard again.
Removing British Yellowhead correctly
If you want to make sure that you are removing the British yellowhead completely, then you need to know how to do it correctly. There is a certain time of year that you should consider removing the yellowhead, in order to avoid spreading.
Not only are the roots really deep into the ground, but when the drying flowers are disturbed, the seeds will fall and spread. This is why it is essential that you should remove British yellowhead, before the plant flowers, or before the flower dries out and become seeds.
It’s also essential to ensure that you are removing every inch of the roots in the ground. Just a small part of the root can result into a British yellowhead infestation again.
Manual removal of British Yellowhead
Yes, it is possible to manually remove the British yellowhead completely. However, you need to make sure that you are removing everything there is of the plant. Any little thing about the plant that you leave behind will result in the plant growing back.
You should make sure that the ground is moist when you manually remove the plant. This is to ensure that you don’t break off any roots. And, you need to make sure that you are removing the plant before it flowers. Experts recommend that you don’t try to remove the British yellowheads manually if you don’t know how to do it correctly. By hiring an expert, you will get the right results, and will not have to struggle with getting rid of yellowheads ever again.
Chemical control of British yellowhead
Before you start using any chemical to control the British yellowhead, it is important to make sure that you know what chemical will be safe to use. Especially, if you have pets and children playing in your yard.
The first chemical that you can use is clopyralid (Lontrel®). This is the most popular chemical control option for removing the yellowhead from your garden. This is pet-friendly and will not harm your children if they don’t eat the plants you just sprayed with the chemical. This chemical will kill the plant, without killing other plants in the area.
The other option to control the British yellowhead is to make use of the Access® chemical. You will need to use 100ml with 10 of diesel. Mix it together and spray it directly on the plant. You need to remember that this is something you can’t do during the summer when the flowers are blooming.
Essential information about removing it completely
The one important thing that you need to remember when it comes to removing the yellowhead is that it is hard to get rid of. You might think that a small flower like the British yellowhead can’t be hard to remove. However, it has really deep roots that will grow back, if you break it off in the ground.
Most people recommend that you are making use of chemicals mentioned here, or burning the plants to completely getting rid of the plant. You just need to be careful when burning the plant, that you don’t burn anything else around the plant as well. Even if the burning of the plant is the best option, it is recommended that you leave this option for a professional that knows how to burn only certain areas of your garden. When you are using the chemicals, you need to make sure that you are mixing and using it correctly by following the instructions.
Conclusion
The British yellowhead isn’t native in the USA and is known to be invasive. It is important to make sure that you are getting rid of the plant and flowers as soon as possible. The longer you are waiting to get rid of the plant, the harder it is going to be to remove it correctly.
Even if this is a medicinal plant in China, it doesn’t mean that you can use it as medicine as well. There are people that are allergic to the hairs on the plants.
When you want to get rid of the British yellowhead, you will need to make use of chemical sprays. Yes, you can remove it manually, but then you need to make sure that you are removing all parts of the plant. Roots and flowers. It is also best to remove the plants, before the flowers are blooming, to prevent the flowers from making seeds.
The other option is to burn the yellowheads on your lawn. However, then you need to make sure that you are managing the fire so that you are only burning the yellowheads.
With all this mentioned information, you will understand why it is important to get rid of the British yellowhead as soon as you spot them in your yard.
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