Roots seldom exhaust their energy reserves. Deep roots can remain dormant for long periods under intense competition and produce new shoots under drought conditions. Seed primarily disperses near the parent plant, but can move long distances in water and with agricultural machinery. Newly matured seed can be dormant. Information on seed viability and longevity is lacking.
Cultivation can disperse root fragments.
Deep roots can survive repeated cultivation for several years. Alternating wheat with summer fallow or growing perennial hay crops such as alfalfa can help suppress infestations. Managing pastures to prevent overgrazing helps to suppress colonization. Unlike poverty sumpweed , San Diego marsh-elder has flower heads with separate phyllaries . Poverty weed is a perennial forb native to California and much of the Western United States.