The McKean County Conservation District, a member of the Allegheny Plateau Invasive Plant Management Area (APIPMA), has received new funding for invasive plant treatment.
Through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Rapid Response fund grants, treatment will begin on two highly-invasive plants: Japanese knotweed and goatsrue. This grant provides funding to treat infestations of goatsrue within the 5-county area: McKean, Elk, Potter, Forest, and Warren. Japanese knotweed infestations will be treated throughout the Tionesta watershed, which has lower occurrence of the plant. Both plants are extremely invasive and can grow in a wide range of conditions- including along roadsides and ditches, streambanks, and even in your backyard. Private landowners with these plants in the treatment area quality for the free program.
Japanese knotweed has large leaves, white flowers, and hollow stems, similar to bamboo. Goatsrue is an upright shrub, standing 3-5’ tall and has pinnately compound leaves with white or purple colored flowers. Goatsrue is a federally and state listed noxious weed, so eliminating it from the landscape is a high priority. It is illegal to spread or propagate this plant.
If you are not certain the plants you have are Japanese knotweed or goatsrue, contact the McKean County Conservation District and we can help.
If you are interested in having Japanese knotweed or goatsrue treated on your property by a licensed applicator, contact Maddie Stanisch at (814) 887-4020 or atmmstanisch@mckeancountypa.org.
