What does it look like?

Plant: Perennial, multi-stemmed herb, 1 to 8 ft in height.
Leaves: Green to dull gray-green, 4 to 12 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide (lower leaves are larger). Both leaf and stem have a waxy coating. Leaves are alternate and have either a smooth or toothed edge.
Flowers: Tiny and white, forming dense clusters near ends of branches. Generally blooms from May to July with each plant producing thousands of seeds.

Where is it found?

Waste places, roadsides and croplands; particularly in wet areas where the soil is salty or alkaline. Can grow in native, relatively undisturbed plant communities. A severe Perennial Pepperweed infestation is present in the Paramount Ranch area.

Why worry?

Perennial Pepperweed is distributed by seeds or fragments of underground stems. A vigorous root system makes it difficult to control. Once established, it competes with native plants for water and nutrients, especially in wetland habitats. Pepperweed also increases erosion.