Kochia

Kochia scoparia

Weed Description
An erect, much-branched summer annual weed of agronomic crops, pastures, and roadsides. Kochia does not occur in Virginia, but is continually spreading South from the northern United States where it is a common weed. Kochia is also present in the western and southwestern United States.

Seedlings
Cotyledons are very narrow, essentially linear in outline, dull green in color, and covered with hairs. The first true leaves are also very narrow and linear to elliptic in outline. Young leaves are also covered with hairs and especially have hairs along the leaf margins.

Leaves
Occur alternately along the stem. Leaves are linear to lanceolate in outline, ranging from 1 to 2 inches in length, and taper to a point. Leaves do not occur on petioles (sessile) and usually only have hairs along the leaf margins.

Stems
Erect, ranging from 1 to 4 feet in height. Stems are much branched and often have a reddish tint.

Flowers
Occur in clusters at the ends of stems (terminal panicles) and also in the position between the leaf bases and stems (leaf axils). Flowers are relatively inconspicuous, green in color, and approximately 5 to 10 mm long. Flowers have distinctive hairy bracts beneath which tends to give the flowering stems a prickly appearance.

Fruit
A small bladder known as an utricle.

Roots
A taproot and fibrous root system.

Identifying Characteristics
The highly branched nature of kochia and the hairs that occur along the leaf margins are characteristics that help to distinguish this weed from most other species. Young kochia seedlings may be confused with Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) seedlings but the cotyledons of this weed are hairless.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Kochia

Kochia scoparia