Sea Buckthorn
In September 2019, Lacombe County Council passed Bylaw 1299/19, whichelevated Sea Buckthorn to a local Noxious Weed within Lacombe County. Originating from Eurasia, Sea Buckthorn is not a native species to North America. It is highly invasive (especially in riparian areas) and displaces naturally occurring vegetation and wildlife. Due to its thorny branches, Sea Buckthorn creates a barrier that divides and prevents access to Gull Lake through infested areas.
Sea Buckthorn is often used as an orchard species. The berries can be harvested by hand but present a challenge due to the thorniness of the Sea Buckthorn branches. The fruit is strongly attached and is not easily stripped from the dense shrub.
As an allelopathic plant, Sea Buckthorn releases growth inhibitors into the soil preventing the establishment of native plant species.
Sea Buckthorn Identification
- Dense and stiff branches, that are very thorny
- Leaves are a distinct pale silvery-green, lanceolate, 3–8 cm long, and 7 mm broad
- Roots distribute rapidly, extensively through rhizomes and seed dispersal
- Berries are an attractive food source for wildlife
- Male plants produce brownish flowers which wind distribute pollen
- Females produce fruit, seeds, and have flowers without petals
Primarily a biennial plant – producing arosette the first year and a flowering boltthe second – but can also be a short-livedperennial, blooming for a few years beforedying. Spotted knapweed can self-pollinateand is also cross-pollinated by insects. A prolific seed producer – individual plantscan produce over 140,000 per year – controlis extremely difficult on established infestations.
Himalayan balsam is a summer annual of riparian areas which reproduces by seed only. Native to the western Himalayas, it was introduced to Kew Gardens in the early 1800s. By the 1900s it was already common in south-west Germany and spreading via the Rhine River3, and throughout candinavian
Himalayan Balsam (