Ragweed can cause severe allergic reactions in humans. This is how you can identify and eliminate the dangerous weed from North America.
Ambrosia, also known as ragweed, is actually more common in North America. But here in Germany there are also some Ambrosia species that spread invasively in home gardens. This wouldn't be so dramatic if it were harmless weeds. However, ragweed is poisonous and can cause allergic reactions and health problems in humans. This is how you recognize and fight the nasty plant.
Allergic reactions: This is why ragweed is so dangerous
Ambrosia is native to North America, but has also been introduced into Europe over the years and, according to
Ambrosiainfo.de,
has been spreading here increasingly since the 1990s. The plant is currently found in the south of Germany, although populations have also been reported further north, such as in the Berlin area.
Ambrosia is so dangerous for Europeans because, according to the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture,
the pollen allergen
is much stronger than that of European plants. Allergy sufferers therefore have a much stronger reaction than to the plants they are used to. Even non-allergy sufferers can react to ragweed pollen, which, in addition to its aggressiveness, also has the disadvantage of a very late flowering period (July to September), thus extending the regular pollen season by weeks to months.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to ragweed include swollen and watery eyes and hay fever. In severe cases, shortness of breath, asthma attacks or conjunctivitis can also occur. Skin contact with the plants can also cause irritation, red spots or even inflamed eczema, which must be treated with cortisone ointments.
Recognizing ragweed: This is what the dangerous plant looks like
Ambrosia is not that easy to recognize in German gardens because there are some plants that look similar to the harmful weed. Most often, ragweed grows or proliferates in bright places with high levels of light. The plant has a hairy stem that initially turns green and later turns reddish during flowering. The leaves are pinnate and green on both sides. If there are already inflorescences, they are located at the top of the shoot and are grape-shaped, which is where
the nickname ragweed comes from, according to the
Bavarian State Office for Agriculture
. At the end of May, shortly before flowering, Ambrosia has a height of up to 15 centimeters.
Ambrosia is often confused with chamomile species when no flowers can be seen yet. If the plant is in the flowering period, it can also pass for common mugwort, which, however, is much larger (up to 50 centimeters) and whose leaves are silvery on the underside. In addition, the stems of the mugwort become brown and smooth and the leaves are a little coarser.
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Fighting ragweed: What to do if you find ragweed in the garden or in parks?
Ideally, you should discover ragweed before it blooms. Then you can tear the plant and its roots out of the ground. According to
Umweltbundesamt.de,
it is best to wear gloves. If the plant is already blooming, wearing a mask is also recommended. People who are already struggling with allergies and reactions to pollen should avoid contact with ragweed plants altogether and get someone to help.
If you remove a flowering ragweed plant from the garden, it must not be disposed of in the organic waste bin or compost due to the risk of the pollen spreading. It's best to pack them airtight in a plastic bag and throw them in the trash. If the plants are too big or there are too many, you can also ask the city cleaning department whether they can dispose of the plants and burn them.
If ragweed plants are discovered not in your own garden, but in public areas, such as in parks, meadows, fields or on the side of the road, the populations should be reported immediately to the local green space or plant protection office or the Julius Kühn Institute. By the way, the cherry laurel, which is popular in Germany, is also an invasive plant species and is also controversial among conservationists.