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State lists English holly as class C noxious weed; Tree Board plans homeowner guidance
Summary
Washington’s noxious-weed board listed English holly (Ilex aquifolium) as a Class C noxious weed; the Lake Forest Park Tree Board will prepare a short advisory article and homeowner guidance on removal and control.
At its April 3 meeting the Lake Forest Park Tree Board discussed the Washington noxious-weed board’s March decision to list English holly (Ilex aquifolium) as a Class C noxious weed and agreed to draft an informational article for distribution to residents.
Why it matters: Board members said holly has a demonstrated capacity to spread rapidly in Northwest woodlands and to displace native understory plants. One local study cited during the meeting showed rapid spread in a representative woodland setting.
What the board will publish: A board member offered to write a short piece for the city E‑news and local outlets describing holly’s ecology, how it spreads, and practical removal steps for homeowners. The article will note that the state listing includes exceptions for commercial holly growers and that homeowners generally are not required to remove holly under the state’s Class C designation; nonetheless the board said it encourages voluntary control because of ecological impacts.
Practical guidance discussed: The board discussed control methods (manual removal, girdling plus herbicide for large stems, stump treatments) and the difficulty of complete eradication without repeated follow-up. City staff clarified that invasive species removals typically proceed under minor tree-permit pathways when municipal permits are relevant.
Next steps: The board’s author will circulate the draft advisory to board members for review before publication and coordinate with city staff on any permitting or disposal guidance to include in the advisory.
