The plant disperses 750 to 9,000 seeds which stay viable for several years in soil, contributing to its status as an invasive species.

[4] It produces seed as early in the year as January, especially if the region undergoes a warm spell, which is a common occurrence during southern California winters.

The fact that it propagates by leaving large numbers of viable seeds in the soil prevents eradication measures such as pulling, mowing, grazing and burning.

Individual plants have the capacity to separate from the ground and become like tumbleweeds, dropping seeds as they are carried across the desert floor in the breeze.

[citation needed] One study suggests that there are two factors that affect the dormancy of B. tournefortii: one for the removal of the seed coat and another for darkness.

Control of this species may be improved by exploiting this trait through chemical stimulation of germination, with the aim of clearing the soil seed bank followed by herbicidal applications or physical removal.