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Canada thistle

(Cirsium arvense)

Photo of Canada thistle
Photo credit: Elizabeth J. Czarapata

Herbaceous perennial, 2-6.5’ tall with upright, grooved stems that branch near the top of the plant. The stems are hairy.

Overview

Other names for this plant include:
  • Common names: creeping thistle, field thistle, perennial thistle
  • Scientific names: Carduus arvensis; Cirsium incanum
Ecological threat:
  • It invades undisturbed areas such as prairies, savannas, glades, dunes, streambanks, sedge meadows and forest openings. It also invades croplands, pastures, lawns, gardens, roadsides, ditches and waste sites.
  • Once it has established it spreads quickly, forming monocultures.
Overview map of Canada thistle classification in WI
Restricted (orange) counties

Classification in Wisconsin: Restricted

Species Assessment Groups (SAG) were assembled to recommend a legal classification for each species considered for NR 40. The recommendation for Canada thistle was based upon this literature review [PDF] developed by the department.

Identification

Leaves: Simple, alternate, lance-shaped, tapering, irregularly lobed, with spiny, toothed margins, stalkless. Green on both sides; smooth early but becoming pubescent with maturity.

Flowers: Numerous, small (0.5-0.75” wide), purple to pink (rarely white) terminal flower heads. Bracts have spineless tips. Blooms June-September.

Fruits & seeds: Small, light brown with a tuft of tan hairs loosely attached to the tip to enable wind dispersal. Seeds are often spread by mowing after flowering has begun.

Roots: Reproduces clonally by creeping roots that grow laterally in soil, up to 10-12’ per year. It also produces taproots that may grow more than 6’ deep. Readily regenerates from root fragments.

Similar species: Canada thistle is distinguished from all other thistles by creeping lateral roots, dense clonal growth; and small dioecious flower heads (meaning male and female flowers are produced on separate plants). However, it is difficult to distinguish the two flower types based on appearance.

Other invasive thistles include the European marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre).

Control

Mechanical: Repeated pulling and mowing (minimum three times per growing season) weakens roots; mow when flower buds are formed but have not yet opened. Late spring (May/June) burns for three consecutive years stimulates seed germination and kills seedlings. Later season burns are needed because early-season burning can stimulate plant growth and flowering.

Chemical: Foliar spray glyphosate during the early bolting phase when plants are 6-10” tall, during the bud to flower phase, or rosettes in the fall; foliar spray with clopyralid or metsulfuron-methyl.

Biological: Stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus litura), bud weevil (Larinus planus), stem gall fly (Urophora cardui), and foliage feeder (Cassida rubiginosa).

For more information on control techniques, visit the Canada thistle factsheet [exit DNR] by University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Photos

View Canada thistle pictures in our photo gallery!

Resources

Sources for content:
  • Czarapata, Elizabeth; Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest: an illustrated guide to their identification and control. University of Wisconsin Press. 2005. Pg. 55-57
  • McClay, A.S. Canada thistle In: Van Driesche, R., et al., 2002, Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States, USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04, 413 p [exit DNR]. Last updated Nov. 5, 2003.
  • Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) [exit DNR].
Links for more information: