Bull Thistle

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare Sunflower family
Key identifying traits Flowers are 1 ½ to 2 inches wide, pinkish purple and generally clustered at the end of branches Bracts surrounding the flowers are narrow and spine-tipped Leaves tend to have bumpy surface and end in long sharp spines Leaves in the first year form a rosette Second year stem leaves are lobed, hairy and prickly on upper side and cottony underneath Stems are 2 to 5 feet tall, many branched and have irregular spiny wings Seeds are topped by plume like white hairs Biology and ecology A biennial with a short, fleshy tap root Plumed seeds blow along the ground and in the air Found in pastures, along roads and in disturbed areas as well as first year rosettes in lawns Flowering occurs from July through September Spreads only by seeds Control Prevention – Learn to identify plants; know your property; beware of fill dirt, hay and seed from outside your area Biological – One seed eater is widespread Cultural – Good vegetative cover helps slow establishment but it can invade healthy stands including healthy lawns Mechanical – Will not stand regular cutting or tillage. Don’t let it go to seed-cut and bag if flower heads are present Chemical – Several effective at label rates-best before stem elongation; refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook for specific chemical recommendations	small rosette
	larger rosette


*Where found –* Wide spread in Stevens County and in the U.S. in general. Less aggressive than the biennial Plumeless thistle in this area and not as troublesome in crops and moist areas as the perennial Canada thistle. Often found in lawns. MSdoc pdf