In Cologne, the spread of the poisonous ragwort has significantly increased. The city is taking measures to control the plant, but not everywhere.
What might look like an innocent yellow flower in a meadow can turn out to be harmful: the poisonous ragwort. Both the fresh plants and the dried ones, such as in hay, are toxic and can cause liver damage. Grazing animals are particularly at risk.
For the first time this year, Cologne has observed a significant increase in the growth of this toxic weed, as the city explained to t-online upon request. The plant is primarily being controlled on agricultural mowing meadows to ensure that the hay can be safely used as livestock feed. Here, the weed is repeatedly cut and the cut material is disposed of.
However, on so-called extensive or fallow meadows, the ragwort is not being controlled, as these areas are intended to serve primarily for biotope protection, the city further explained. Additionally, the plant provides a habitat, pollen source, and food plant for many insect species, making it extremely important for the preservation of biological diversity.
The Lower Nature Conservation Authority in North Rhine-Westphalia cites the dry summers of recent years as the reason for the increased presence of the ragwort. This condition has likely promoted its growth.
