Updated California Noxious Weed Ratings July 2006

Updated California Noxious Weed Ratings

Permanent pest ratings have been officially assigned to the following plants by the Division of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, California Department of Food and Agriculture. These ratings became effective on July 31, 2006.

Slender false brome - Brachypodium sylvaticum -A rated
Non-native Dodder - Cuscuta spp. - A rated
Arundo - Arundo donax - B rated
Jubata grass - Cortaderia jubata - B rated
Tamarisk chinensis, T. gallica, T. parviflora, T. rammosissima - B rated
Tree of heaven -Ailanthus altissima - C rated
Bull thistle - Cirsium vulgare - C rated
Spartium junceum - not rated at this point - pending further information review

For general information about noxious weed ratings and their technical definitions see: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/encycloweedia/winfo_weedratings.htm
CDFA websites will be updated with all current ratings by September 30, 2006 (many are currently out-of-date)
Many species have received Q ratings over the past 2 years. These will be included in subsequently revised lists.

Steve Schoenig -- Senior Environmental Research Scientist
Program Manager - Terrestrial Weed Eradication Program
Integrated Pest Control Branch -- California Dept. of Food & Ag
1220 N St, Room 341, Sacramento CA 95814 (916)-651-0573
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/weedhome/