Tumbleweeds spend the summer growing in one place. When fall comes, they develop a layer near the base of the plant stem that breaks easily. When the plant dies in the winter, the tumbleweed snaps free from its roots and rolls in strong winds, scattering seeds as it goes.

A tumbleweed might seem harmless by itself, but large groups of the plant can block roads and trap people inside their houses. In 2024, towns in Utah and Nevada were invaded overnight. Some of the tumbleweed piles reached the house roofs!

Invasion is nothing new for tumbleweed. It arrived in the United States as an invasive species from Russia in the 1800s. Though it is usually associated with the West, tumbleweed can be found in most states.

While tumbleweed can sometimes be a menace in our fallen world, its design shows how God created different plants to “yield seed” in unique ways (Genesis 1:11).