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Few plants are as uniquely symbolic of the American West as the lone tumbleweed.
But despite its place in the American imagination, many are unfamiliar with its origins.
Not only is the tumbleweed not native to North America but it’s also caused trouble since its arrival.
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Tumbleweed is one of the many common names of theRussian thistle (Salsola tragus).
It is native to dry and semi-dry regions of Europe and central Asia.
By the turn of the twentieth century, the species had made its way to California.
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Today, the plant can be found in all states except Alaska and Florida.
Thanks to its nature, tumbleweed spreads quickly.
First, it produces up to 250,000 seeds, depending on the size of the plant.
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Once the seeds have been deposited, they don’t need much to grow either.
They only need a day temperature of about 68F and 41F at night to sprout.
On top of that, they’ve adapted to alkaline and saline soils.
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But despite all the bad things, some are thankful for their ubiquitous presence.
