Download Inula - Stevens County

Inula
Inula helenium
Sunflower Family
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Plants can grow 6-8’ tall
Leaves are coarsely toothed and have a hairy and
downy gray underside
The root is thick and almost carrot-like
Sunflower-like flowers are yellow and 1 ½ -2” wide;
ray petals are very thin
The basal leaves will grow to 18” long & 8” wide
Biology and ecology
 A perennial plant spreading by seeds
 It is an escaped ornamental that prefers sun and
moist, fertile soil but it tolerates quite a bit of
shade
 Inula is a native to Europe, Asia and Africa but is
now naturalized in the eastern U.S.
 It was cultivated for centuries as a medicinal &
edible plant (the root) and may still have some
value on the herbal market today
 At the old homestead site where it is growing in
Stevens County, Inula has formed a nearly solid
monoculture, spreading a bit every year
Control
Prevention – Learn to identify plants; start
monitoring early in the season
Biological – No known biological control in our area
Cultural – Plant competitive grass or other cover crop
Mechanical – Does not tolerate tillage but does not
hand pull very well due to the large root
Chemical – the PNW Weed Management handbook
does not list any recommendations for this plant
Flowers & flowering stand in August
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New growth & old flower stalks in May
Key identifying traits
Where found – The only known site in Washington is
in northern Stevens County.
Stevens County Noxious Weed Control Board, December 2007