I love winter, but I also look forward to the arrival of spring, with the plants waking up from slumber and offering us a peek at their renewed life with beautiful flowers. It is now mid-February and our surrounding areas throughout Solano County are popping with stunning yellow flowers. 

I noticed that one of the plants with yellow flowers seems to be blooming in larger numbers this year, and some patches are also showing up in my garden. I am now worried about this beautiful plant spreading and becoming difficult to control, so off again to do some research.

I consulted my ever-so-reliable California Master Gardener Handbook and the University of California Agricultural & Natural Resources (UC IPM) website: 

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7444.html?src=blog51345.

According to the handbook and UC IPM, this little beauty is called Bermuda buttercup (Buttercup oxalis) (Oxalis pes-caprae) and sadly, is listed under UC IPM's weed gallery! It is hard to believe that something so pretty could be a weed. This plant was originally brought from its native South Africa as a beautiful ornamental plant, but it took root and aggressively spread in its new environment. Hence, the reason this plant is now listed as a weed. 

According to the California Master Gardener Handbook, a weed is defined as “a plant growing where it is not wanted. Plants are called weeds when they interfere with the intended use of land and water resources, cause health problems, or reduce the aesthetic value of a site.” It appears that this is what is going on with this plant throughout the neighborhood.

The Bermuda buttercup has been quite invasive in this county and overrunning essential habitat for California native plants, particularly in coastal areas. It can spread through runners (shoots that root as they make contact with the ground) and small bulbs, but once it flowers the seeds can be carried with the wind to cover large areas.

Hmmm, so what to do about this problem?

According to UC IPM, the best control method is prevention - try to remove the entire plant.  When you see this beautiful but pesky plant, time for some weeding.  Also, make sure that there are no remaining bulbs that can again grow and spread. If there is a large infestation, UC IPM suggests that herbicides should be used only as a last resort. Note that UC IPM also warns that the use of herbicides is harmful to other plants, so please be careful.

I took advantage of a break between the recent run of storms to do some weeding. I was craving to visit the garden and get a little dirty, but sad to see these pretty little flowers go. I did make a lovely vase display with some of my cuttings to bring some color into our wintery home.

I hope I caught them all...