Lead Land Steward Volunteer Henry DiRocco plucks a Sahara mustard plant out from between two black sage plants. Simple hand weeding is critical to stopping the spread of this invasive plant. Wildflowers are starting to appear in local canyons, but not all of these flowers are happy harbingers of spring. Some blooms are signs of invasive weeds threatening native plants and wildlife of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. And while spring is the season to spot native wildflowers, it’s also a critical time to remove one of the most dangerous and invasive threats to our protected wild lands: Sahara mustard. You can help by volunteering to remove this invasive weed and help restore wildlife habitat.
Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) is a highly aggressive invasive weed that is more of an immediate threat to native flora and fauna than other, more-prevalent mustard such as black mustard (Brassica nigra). Despite Sahara mustard’s tiny, pale yellow flowers that look pretty for a short while, its ability to quickly and easily invade and replace healthy habitat makes it a prominent threat to the Landmarks. The weed can quickly spread its seed, grow rapidly, making it a top priority for removal before it establishes too much of a hold within the Landmarks. When invasive weeds drive out native plants, they also drive out the wildlife that depends on native plants for food and shelter. Public support is vital to stopping the weed’s spread and ensuring the continued protection of one of Orange County’s most diverse open spaces.
Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) is a highly aggressive invasive weed that is more of an immediate threat to native flora and fauna than other, more-prevalent mustard such as black mustard (Brassica nigra). Despite Sahara mustard’s tiny, pale yellow flowers that look pretty for a short while, its ability to quickly and easily invade and replace healthy habitat makes it a prominent threat to the Landmarks. The weed can quickly spread its seed, grow rapidly, making it a top priority for removal before it establishes too much of a hold within the Landmarks. When invasive weeds drive out native plants, they also drive out the wildlife that depends on native plants for food and shelter. Public support is vital to stopping the weed’s spread and ensuring the continued protection of one of Orange County’s most diverse open spaces.
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