Utah weeds · Summer annual · peak June – September
How to get rid of Kochia in Utah
How to recognize Kochia (burning bush or summer cypress)
- Upright, bushy plants with narrow, soft, slightly hairy leaves
- Growth that can reach several feet in a single summer
- Reddish or burgundy color as the plant ages in fall
- Dried plants that snap off at the base and roll with the wind
Why it thrives in Utah
Kochia thrives in heat, drought and disturbed ground, so it likes rock beds, driveway edges and vacant lots. When the plant dries it tumbles, and each roll drops seed, so one plant can reseed a whole block.
How to remove it by hand
- Pull seedlings and young plants when they are under a foot tall. The roots are fairly shallow at this stage.
- Grip near the base and pull with a steady tug. For bigger plants, loosen the soil first.
- Bag the whole plant, especially anything starting to flower.
- Do not leave dried plants in the yard. They are what spreads the seed.
- Check bare areas every week or two through summer.
When to pull it
Seedlings appear from spring into early summer, plants flower in late summer, and seed ripens in fall. Pull by July for the easiest job and always before the seed forms.
How to keep it from coming back
- Cover bare soil with mulch or keep rock beds clean of debris where seeds collect.
- Clear fence lines and corners in fall, where tumbling plants pile up.
- Pull neighbors’ strays you can reach before they set seed.
Kochia FAQs
Is kochia the same as a tumbleweed?
Both tumble, but they are different plants. Kochia has soft leaves, while Russian thistle (the classic tumbleweed) is spiny when mature. Both are best pulled young.
Why does kochia grow in my rock beds?
Seed lands on bare, sunny, dry ground and takes off, and rock beds are exactly that. Weed fabric helps only until soil and debris collect on top of it.
How fast does kochia grow?
Very fast in summer heat, which is why a bed that looked clean in June can look overgrown by August.
Skip the pulling
A weeder from Utah Weed Pullers can handle kochia for you: one visit a week, pulled by hand with no sprays, from $322 a month. We serve all of Utah County and Salt Lake County, including Lehi, Provo, Orem, Draper, Sandy, South Jordan, American Fork, Salt Lake City. See every city.