This Class B noxious weed has a limited distribution in King County, and control is required. In western Washington this weed is sometimes found on roadsides or along railroad tracks in very dry, disturbed sites. In eastern Washington, kochia is widespread, and many counties report thousands of acres.

Introduced as a garden ornamental from Asia in the early 1900's, this weedy annual spread state by state. It reached eastern Washington by 1980. Kochia is very drought tolerant and can invade both irrigated and dryland crops. The economic impacts hit crops such as potatoes, alfalfa and wheat.

For more information about kochia, please follow this link to the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.

If you find kochia in King County, please notify us through our online infestation form.

To find out where we have records of this weed in King County, use our interactive noxious weed map and search for kochia.