Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands
Copperweed
K’iiłtsoinitł’izí
Copperweed is a woody-based forb, growing 3 to 5 feet tall, with many slender gray stems. The plant turns and stays copper colored through summer. It grows in semidesert climate in summer precipitation areas. It is most likely to be found along streambeds and gullies with extra moisture. It is usually on soils high in salt.
Cattle, sheep, and elk may eat copperweed when other feed is scarce. Cattle are more likely to eat this plant in the fall when they are being trailed. Copperweed may cause poisoning in livestock. Symptoms of poisoning include dullness, weakness, and coma followed by death without a struggle. In humans, copperweed may cause skin irritation.
*Description courtesy of Utah State University's Range Plants of Utah.
Copyright 2018 New Mexico State University. Individual photographers retain all rights to their images. Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023. Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people. NMSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer..
NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its programs and activities as required by equal opportunity/affirmative action regulations and laws and university policy and rules. For more information please read the NMSU Notice of Non-discrimination (opens in new window).