[plants.usda.gov] Environmental Concerns: Environmental Concerns
Kochia is highly invasive and is able to establish and
persist in harsh environments where other plants are
limited. Kochia may be hard to control once it is
established in an area. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)
[Wikipedia] Eurasia native: Bassia scoparia is a large annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae (sensu lato) native to Eurasia. It has been introduced to many parts of North America,[1] where it is found in grassland, prairie, and desert shrub ecosystems.[2] Its common names include ragweed, summer cypress,[2] mock-cypress, kochia, belvedere, burningbush,[1] Mexican firebrush, and Mexican fireweed,[3] the provenance of the latter three names being the herb's red autumn foliage. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)
[www.invasive.org/] Ecological Impacts: Ecological Impacts: Kochia is able to spread long distances very rapidly.
It is a competitor for light, nutrients, and soil moisture, and can reduce
crop yield. It can contaminate crops and suppress the growth of nearby
plants by releasing chemicals into the soil. Additionally, kochia contains
high levels of oxalates, alkaloids and nitrates that can be toxic to a variety
of grazing animals if large amounts are consumed. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)