Common Backyard Weeds of the Pacific Northwest

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Book Release and Fun Facts About Cocklebur

My book is out! It showed up a week earlier than expected, a pleasant surprise for anyone who pre-ordered a copy. Common Backyard Weeds of the Pacific Northwest is available now from your favorite bookseller. You can also order it directly from the publisher or through my Bookshop store. Thank you for your support! If and when you get your hands on a copy, please tell me what you think. Constructive feedback would be particularly helpful so that I can make improvements to the second edition. (Yes, I’m already planning on a second edition, and I already have a few edits of my own!)

While researching this book, I came across many new and interesting facts about weeds that I didn’t previously know. It’s part of the joy of writing. Some of these discoveries pertain to cocklebur, a prickly and troubling weed with a fascinating dispersal story. Xanthium strumarium is a widespread plant that comes up in farms, rangelands, wetlands, yards, vacant lots, roadsides, ditch banks, and a variety of other locations. In the book I introduce it this way: “A native and/or introduced annual (short-lived perennial) that grows up to 4 feet tall with either a single or a few rigid stems.” It produces a thick, woody taproot and has broad, simple leaves. Separate male and female flowers occur on the same plant, and the flowers are wind-pollinated and predominantly self-pollinated – a unique state of affairs for a plant in the aster family.

fruits of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)

The most recognizable feature of cocklebur are the fruits, which are egg-shaped and covered in hooked prickles. One of their dispersal mechanisms is immediately obvious, grabbing onto passers-by and hitching a ride. Since they are often found near waterways or in areas where flooding occurs, another way they are dispersed is by floating in water. Both of these dispersal pathways allow seeds to travel long distances.

Still, cockleburs have another trick up their sleeves that helps ensure their longevity. Inside each fruit there are two seeds which look a bit like oversized sunflower seeds. These seeds exhibit something called somatic polymorphism. This term can mean different things depending on the plant, but in cocklebur’s case it means that the two seeds have different dormancies. One seed will germinate within the first year. The second seed remains dormant for at least a year and can germinate much later. A classic example of bet hedging. The two seeds are equipped with a water-soluble germination inhibitor. Oxygen degrades the inhibitors which leads to germination, but this happens at a different rate in each of the two seeds. (Read more about this here.)

inside the fruit of a cocklebur

From a weed management perspective, dispersal mechanisms and seed viability are two critical traits to become familiar with. When you know how your weeds get around and how long their seeds might last in the soil, you can make informed decisions on which weeds to remove and when. Just another reason to get my book!

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If you are in the Boise area, I will be at Rediscovered Books this Saturday (July 11,2026) for a short presentation and book signing. Go here for more details. Follow me on Instagram to stay informed on this and future book events. Hope to see you there!

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Upcoming Book Release and Some Sowthistle Identification

If you’re reading this the day it’s posted, we are two weeks away from my book being released. Common Backyard Weeds of the Pacific Northwest will be available for purchase from your favorite bookseller on July 7, 2026. The book is a quick guide to many of the common weeds you will find across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and parts of British Columbia and Alaska. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and approachable enough for those who know nothing about plants to get something out of it. My hope is that it has something to offer plant people too. Preorder now to be sure you’ll get a copy. I appreciate the support!

Published by AdventureKEEN

A few more details about the book. The introduction defines weeds, gives a broad overview on how to identify plants, and shares some basic information on how to manage weeds. The weeds themselves are organized into general life forms: low-growing, upright broadleaf, vining, and grass or grass-like. The book does not cover trees, shrubs, or aquatic weeds. Plant profiles include a brief introduction, habitat preferences, plant descriptions, and some look-alikes. There is also some general guidance on how to manage the weed along with a sentence or two on how to use them (ethnobotany!) or how they might be used (wildlife or ecological value!). Photos are included to help with identification, and resources are listed to keep you learning.

Some of the profiles in the book cover multiple weeds in one. This is because their life histories, life forms, and habitat preferences are very similar. Their management is also identical. While I typically recommend identifying your weeds before making management decisions, closely related weeds that act similarly don’t necessarily need to be identified precisely to species. However, if you’re a plant identification dork like me, figuring out exactly what species of weed you have is a thrilling endeavor. In fact, something I often say is if you’re looking to get better at plant identification, start with weeds. There are so many resources out there for identifying weeds (like my book!), that studying descriptions of weeds makes for a great introduction to the basics of plant identification.

As an example, let’s look at two different weedy, annual sowthistles: spiny sowthistle (Sonchus asper) and common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus). Both of these species can look very similar, from their flowers to their growth forms to their leaves and stems. One way to easily tell them apart is by closely observing their leaves, specifically their leaf bases. The leaf bases of both species clasp the stem. The leaves of spiny sowthistle tend to be glossy with more spines along their margins. Their bases are open and rounded, creating a distinct spiral form. The leaf bases of common sowthistle are folded over, which can give them a pointed look.

leaf bases of spiny sowthistle (Sonchus asper)
leaf bases of common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

Another similar looking, related species is perennial sowthistle (S. arvensis). It is relatively easy to tell apart due to its perennial nature and its rhizomatous root system. Managing a perennial weed that spreads by rhizomes can be more of a challenge and may require different strategies compared to annual weeds with simple root systems. Understanding the life histories and growth habits of your weeds will make you better equipped to manage them, and hopefully my upcoming book will help you do that.