Key identifying traits
- Plants have erect stems
growing 2-4’ tall
- Stems are spotted and very
rough
- Leaves are alternate,
triangular or heart-shaped and serrated
- Flowers are small and in
the axils of the upper leaves
- Fruits are 1’ long with
hooked prickles and 2 curved spines at the tip
Biology and ecology
- An annual reproducing by
seeds
- Common cocklebur is a
native to North America
- Both the seedlings and
seeds are toxic to livestock
- Flowering occurs from July
to September
- It can now be found
worldwide
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crops
Mechanical –
Small populations can be effectively hand pulled
Chemical –the
PNW Weed Management handbook does not have it listed as a problem
weed but other sources list mixtures with either dicamba or clopyralid
are listed to work on common cocklebur |
