Stevens County Noxious Weed Control Board
This web site will help you identify & control noxious weeds. Conventional & biological control
(BioControl) information and photographs  are here. Maps & related information are included.

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Diffuse & Spotted knapweed
Centaurea diffusa Lam. & Centaurea biebersteinii Lam. 

Sunflower Family

Diffuse & Spotted KW are hybridizing in our county; many plants have characteristics of both

Key identifying traits

  • Many spreading branches with divided lower leaves; upper leaves are smaller and mostly undivided
  • Diffuse kw flower bracts are tipped with definite slender spines
  • Spotted kw flower bracts are dark tipped
  • Bract margins divided like the teeth of a comb
  • Leaves are grayish green, hairy and bitter
  • Flowers are numerous; white to rose to purple

Biology and ecology

  • Annual, biennial(usually) or short lived perennials
  • Tap rooted and growing 1-4' tall
  • Infest roadsides, waste areas and rangelands
  • Highly competitive and invasive on dry sites
  • Flowering occurs from early July to September
  • Old DK plants break off, tumble and scatter seed. SK flower heads open & disperse most seed within a 3-4' radius of the plant
  • Plants are native to Eurasia

Control

Prevention – Learn to identify plants; know your property; beware of fill dirt, hay and seed from outside your area

Biological Several established and common in this area and having some effect on density and vigor when found working together on roots and seeds-especially Larinus minutus

Cultural – Competitive vegetation helps but can be displaced; fertilizer and irrigation generally favor grasses and burning reduces seed dispersal

Mechanical – Tillage, digging, pulling & cutting will reduce or eliminate plants if repeated frequently, thoroughly & prior to seed production

Chemical – Several effective at label rates with rosette and early bolt best stages for treatment; refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook for specific chemical recommendations

 
typical diffuse       typical spotted


old diffuse heads

 
old spotted heads


rosettes


infestation


Where found –
Widely distributed in Stevens County and surrounding areas.

MSdoc     PDF

 

weedboard@co.stevens.wa.us
Last Edit: February 25, 2010
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