The tumbleweed is both a symbolic plant of the American Southwest (especially when dead, uprooted, and rolling in the wind) and a much hated invader of dry gardens. It is not native to this hemisphere.

Tumbleweeds have a freakish ability to grow when there has been no rain for months. They grow a substantial tap root that complicates removal, because you kind of have to pull them to get rid of them. They have annoying spines that can make extended skin contact (especially with brown stems) a nasty experience. Use gloves, act early, and pull hard from the base.

As an annual, the tumbleweed has a short and fast life. When dead, and especially during strong wind events, they can travel some distance, spreading seed everywhere they go. The accumulation of tumbleweeds can lead to a serious fire hazard, especially since a dead plant has the perfect ratio of combustible material to air flow.

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