Weeds |
|
|
|
|
| Annual bluegrass | Barnyardgrass | Bentgrass, creeping | Bermudagrass | Birdfoot Trefoil | Bittercress (Shotweed, Hairy bittercress) | Bittersweet nightshade (European bittersweet) | Black medic | Blackberry (Himalayan, Evergreen, Pacific) | Blue mustard (Purple mustard, Tenella mustard) | Brackenfern, western | Buffalobur | Bull thistle | Buttercup, creeping | Butterfly bush | Canada thistle | Catchweed bedstraw (Cleavers) | Catsear, common (False dandelion) | Chickweed, common and mouseear | Clover | Comfrey | Crabgrass | Creeping Jenny | Dandelion | Dock (Curly, Broadleaf) | Dodder | Downy brome (Cheatgrass, Downy chess) | Dwarf mistletoes | English daisy (Lawn daisy) | English ivy | Field bindweed (Wild morningglory) | Field pennycress (Fanweed) | Flixweed | Foxtail (Green, Yellow, Bristly) | Garden loosestrife | Giant hogweed | Goldenrods | Ground ivy | Groundsel, common | Hawkweeds | Hedge bindweed | Henbit | Herb Robert (Robert geranium, stinky Bob) | Horsetails (Scouringrush) | Horseweed (Marestail) | Knapweeds | Knotweeds (Bohemian, Giant, Japanese, Himalayan) | Kochia | Lambsquarters, common | Lesser celandine | Liverworts | Mallow, common (Cheeseweed, Buttonweed) | Nightshades | Oxalis (Creeping woodsorrel) | Parrotfeather and Eurasian watermilfoil | Pineappleweed | Plantain (Broadleaf, Buckhorn) | Poison hemlock | Poison ivy and Poison oak | Pokeweed | Prickly lettuce (China lettuce) | Prostrate knotweed | Puncturevine (Tackweed, Goathead) | Purple deadnettle (Red deadnettle) | Purple loosestrife (Purple lythrum) | Purslane, common | Quackgrass | Red sorrel (Sheep sorrel) | Redroot pigweed (Rough pigweed) | Redstem filaree (Stork's bill, Crane's bill) | Reed canarygrass | Russian thistle (Tumbleweed) | Ryegrass, annual (Italian ryegrass) | Salsify (Goatsbeard) | Scotch broom | Shepherd's-purse | Smartweeds | Sowthistle, annual and perennial | Speedwells | Spurges (Prostrate spurges) | St. Johnswort, common (Goatweed, Klamathweed) | Stinging nettle | Tansy ragwort | Tumblemustard (Jim Hill mustard) | Velvetgrass (Common velvetgrass) | Velvetleaf | Water primrose | Waterhemlock, western | Wild carrot (Queen Anne's lace) | Yellow nutsedge |
|
|
|
|
|
Caption: Canada thistle flowers
Photo by: R. Parker
|
|
Weeds : Canada thistle : Cirsium arvense
(revision date: 4/7/2021)
Family: Asteraceae (Compositae) Cycle: Perennial Plant Type: Broadleaf
Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful weed management.
Biology
Canada thistle is an aggressive, spreading weed. The aboveground portions of the plants die back in the winter, but resprout from perennial roots in the spring. The alternate leaves are variously shaped, but are typically elongate and variously toothed or lobed, with spines on the margins and at the tips. Leaves may be hairy beneath. The erect, rigid, branching stems may reach up to four feet in height. Flowers (usually purple, occasionally white) are about 3/4" across. They are borne at the top of the plant in clusters. The base of the flower head lacks spines. Male and female flowers occur on different plants, with both male and female plants required for seed production. Canada thistle spreads aggressively from a deep, extensive system of roots and rhizomes. Uncontrolled patches may reach several yards across.
SPECIAL INFORMATION: Cultivation is seldom recommended as a control, as breaking up the roots produces new plants. Canada thistle is designated as a Class 'C' noxious weed in WASHINGTON and a Class 'B' noxious weed in OREGON. Management may be required by law in your county. In addition, it is on the Oregon noxious weed quarantine list, which prohibits sale, purchase, and transport of plants, seeds, and plant parts. Consult your local Noxious Weed Control Board for more information.
|
|
Habitat
Canada thistle is found in fields, waste and cultivated areas, and pastures, commonly on heavy or rich soils.
Non-Chemical Management
- Inorganic mulches, such as plastic, commercial "weed barrier" fabrics and other materials such as roofing paper, is an effective weed management option. Cover inorganic mulches with a thin layer of soil or organic mulch.
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!
Chemical Management
Apply according to label directions. Glyphosate products should be applied as spot treatments only! NOTE: Some ingredients listed here are only available in combination. Read the label carefully on combination products to make sure the product is suitable for your specific situation.
|
Images
+ Show larger images
|
Caption: Canada thistle flowers
Photo by: R. Parker
|
Caption: Flowering Canada thistle
Photo by: R. Parker
|
Caption: Canada thistle creeping root
Photo by: R. Parker
|
Caption: Canada thistle buds
Photo by: T. W. Miller
|
Caption: Canada thistle flower
Photo by: T. W. Miller
|
Caption: Canada thistle leaf
Photo by: T. W. Miller
|
Caption: Canada thistle rosette
Photo by: T. W. Miller
|
Caption: Thistles (Canada on left, Bull on right)
Photo by: T. W. Miller
|
Caption: Canada thistle
Photo by: T. W. Miller
|
|
|
|