Kochia

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Bassia scoparia

Introduced annual weed; not designated on the reviewed Colorado A/B/C lists. C-tumbleweeds CO-rules-2025

Tumbling seed spread; livestock poisoning risk. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: Bassia scoparia is also published as Kochia scoparia. It is distinct from Russian thistle and from the woody ornamental Euonymus alatus, also called burning bush.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

Bassia scoparia: Upright bushy green plant with many narrow leaves on densely branched stems. — **habit** — Upright bushy green plant with many narrow leaves on densely branched stems.
WildBoar · Public domain
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Kochia scoparia is a synonym of Bassia scoparia. Habit can differ between feral plants and cultivated compact forms; no cultivar or subspecies determination is made from these photographs.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Bassia scoparia: Slender branching stems bear narrow leaves and small inconspicuous reproductive clusters at the leaf axils. — **flowering-branches** — Slender branching stems bear narrow leaves and small inconspicuous reproductive clusters at the leaf axils.
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Kochia scoparia is a synonym of Bassia scoparia. Habit can differ between feral plants and cultivated compact forms; no cultivar or subspecies determination is made from these photographs.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Bassia scoparia: Detached dry brown rounded plants rest on pale bare soil. — **dried-form** — Detached dry brown rounded plants rest on pale bare soil.
Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Kochia scoparia is a synonym of Bassia scoparia. Habit can differ between feral plants and cultivated compact forms; no cultivar or subspecies determination is made from these photographs.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Taxonomy

Cornell uses Bassia scoparia and identifies Kochia scoparia as its synonym. K-kochia

Recognize

A bushy annual with narrow, alternate, hairy leaves and small inconspicuous flowers. Plants may turn reddish and break off at the base when dry. C-tumbleweeds

Plants & habitat

Colonizes disturbed yards, roadsides and pastures. New seedlings can emerge over a long season; preventing seed set requires follow-up. Dry plants can tumble and scatter seeds. C-tumbleweeds

People

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Dogs & cats

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Other animals

CSU reports several toxic compounds, including nitrates and oxalates, that can poison cattle and sheep. Maturity and drought can increase the risk. Obtain veterinary and forage-testing advice before grazing or feeding contaminated material. C-tumbleweeds

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

C-tumbleweeds — Identification and Management of Kochia and Russian Thistle, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:57:25+00:00. Locator: Weed Description; Livestock Poisonings; Integrated Weed Management.
CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.
K-kochia — Kochia, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:16:19+00:00. Locator: taxonomy.

Content revised 2026-09-07 02:43:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.