(Campanula rapunculoides)
Java water dropwort is a carrot-like wetland herb often intentionally grown as a ground cover plant, particularly in wet soil areas or along ponds and streams. It spreads rapidly by sending out above-ground runners that quickly take root in moist soils.
The species invades marshes, swampy fields, ditches, canals, and streams. It fares best in full sun to semi-shade and can grow in sediments ranging from sandy to clay. Java water dropwort can invade pastures, agricultural fields, riparian zones and disturbed areas. It is a new and uncommon invader in the United States, therefore little management information is available. The species can overwinter through freezing temperatures and spreads quickly by seed and more common by vegetative fragmentation. The hollow stems are brittle and can root when broken. Fragments float on water currents and form new populations.
Current control advice:
Hand Pulling: small patches could be successful if all roots and stem fragments are collected.
Cutting: in larger areas is unlikely to prove effective as it could fragment stems, further facilitating its spread.
Chemical Control: July chemical application (mixture of glyphosate and imazapyr) is effective.
