Houndstongue has very pretty deep purple and blue flowers. The leaves look similar to mullein at first glance but houndstongue leaves are smooth instead of "fuzzy."
Now is a very good time to attack the houndstongue noxious weed. Some plants are classified as "noxious weeds" because of some conflict with livestock or agricultural production. Houndstongue is not only legally noxious, it is very obnoxious to residential people and their dogs. Individuals may have their property scott free of the weed one year but find a new invasion the next. It spreads as fast as a virus using the neighborhood deer herd as a vector. Popular herbicides run off it like water off a duck's back. Only the high priced spread (e.g., Alligare@$50/8 oz, but it makes 30gl) is effective at control.
But wait, there is a very effective, very cheap method of control. However, it requires getting up close and personal to each plant - preferably with a #3 gravel shovel. Take the shovel, place it about four inches from the base of the weed at a 45-degree angle, shoving the shovel into the ground to sever the root about four inches below ground level. Pull the plant out adding it to a pile to be burned next fall. Repeat.
It takes a village to control houndstongue. Your neighbors and neighborhood dogs will thank you.
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