Because control is not required in the county, it is on the list of Non-Regulated Noxious Weeds for King County. Townsend, J. F. (2015, April) Rare Plants Natural Heritage Technical Report 15-10. The hollow stem. If you pull out the pappus and there is no seed attached, then you can break the flower head in half after removing all the fluff and see if you can scrape out the seed that might still be lodged in the ovary. Many insects feed on the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, while some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds. Nowadays, it's considered an invasive weed. Some species in particular are cultivated in gardens and wildflower plantings for their aesthetic value and/or to support pollinators such as butterflies. (Accessed January 2016). Martin, A.C., Zim, H.S., Nelson, A.L. His presence and purpose were clear. Zouhar, Kris 2001. Many folks can recognize the spiny thistle plants of summer field and roadside. American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html [2016, December 4]. Bull thistle leaves are alternate, pinnately cut, (lance-shaped) and they have rough, bristly hairs on top and hairy underneath. Bull thistle rosette (left). Field thistle has leaves white underneath. The exact means of introduction are largely unknown, but it is speculated that they were brought over in farm seeds. Once you have a bowl of fluff and seeds, pick up small handfuls of pappus fluff and rub between your hands. Why do we need this? Zouhar, Kris. But this native species—field thistle— really stands out as a very tall species, and towers over my head at about 8 feet. And for goldfinch, well, it is one of their favorite foods. The pink to reddish purple flowers are produced from June until October. c/o Virginia Botanical Associates, Blacksburg. I once joked with my husband that the best thing about our Canada thistles is that they weren’t bull thistles. The foliage of bull thistle has stiff hairs on top and a woolly appearance on the bottom; while Canada thistle is smooth on top and either smooth or hairy on the underside. Red to purple, usually solitary flower heads consisting of only disk flowers are 1 to 2 inches wide and encircled by spine-tipped bracts. Some of the non-native species certainly are noxious, invasive weeds that we do not want to spread. Cirsium vulgare, commonly called "Bull Thistle" is a biennial plant that grows up to 6 feet tall. Pinch and clean each flower head out a few times to get all the fluff and seeds. Canada thistle is a native to Eurasia and arrived on our continent probably before the Revolutionary War — most likely mixed in agricultural seed. Stems . Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle, common thistle, or spear thistle) is listed as a noxious weed in nine US states. Native Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum) Native Carolina Thistle (Cirsium carolinianum) Exotic invasive Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Perennial. Most invasive thistles came from Europe in the 1600s. Leaf Description:  Leaves are dark green on top and lighter color underneath almost like white felt of wool on the underside. Solutions are posted to the . Cirsium vulgare. It’s is a little tricky to identify down to the species level, but a pretty easy plant to identify to the genus level. Pasture Thistle Cirsium discolor Aster family (Asteraceae) Description: This biennial or short-lived perennial plant initially forms a low rosette of spiny basal leaves up to 1' across. Bull, musk, plumeless, and Scotch thistle (left to right). and Carduus spp. Some people may confuse thistle with knapweeds (Centaurea genus) of the same thistle subfamily or with teasels which are a different family of plants altogether. Do you live in one of these Virginia counties? JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I often see one large flower; sometimes up to three (but once there were twenty on a single plant!). By now, the plant may be browning and dry. Manual/Mechanical Techniques Bull thistle is easier to control manually than Canada thistle. Field thistle is very similar to tall thistle (C. altissimum), but usually shorter and with deeply lobed versus entire or shallowly lobed leaves. Cut or break off the mature flower head and place in a brown paper sack.  Store inside so the flower heads will dry from any moisture and continue to ripen for a couple of more days or a week. Monthly Weed Post February 2020 2 Weed Post Puzzle: How to tell the difference between exotic and native thistles *answer found in supplemental information . It has a taste somewhat like a Jerusalem artichoke, but not as nice. It forms occasional side stems, but remains erect in stature, reaching 3-6' in height. Do more research to make sure you are identifying your target species correctly and not harvesting a threatened species! Get notified when we have news, courses, or events of interest to you. Partially-peeled stem. Remember to always read the label for proper application sites and rates. Wildlife probably prefer native species: it would stand to reason. The field thistle, #2 has thin out-turned needle-like … If viewed from the side it looks a little like a green pineapple (to me). Habitat: Perennial sow-thistle occurs throughout Ontario in cultivated fields, pastures, meadows, woodland, waste places, roadsides, gardens and occasionally in lawns. Perennial sow-thistle is a perennial weed reproducing by seed and by buds on underground roots. The topmost leaves of the stem also curl upward and hug the ovary. Rosettes up to 3 ft in diameter form the first year. The leaves that follow are longer with pronounced spiny lobes. If not kept under control, thistle will quickly take over a landscape. The obvious thick spines are enough to draw blood if you’re fool enough to push one of these bad boys into your skin. Leaves are variable: best determined by clusters of smaller flowers and creeping root system (versus tap roots in natives). In: Fire Effects Information System, Online]. Italian thistle Yellow starthistle Bull thistle (Blessed) milkthistle Scotch thistle Tocalote (Malta starthistle) Canada thistle All of these species are found at least one of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, or Tulare Counties. Field Thistle most closely resembles Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum), which also has soft needle-like spines on the floral bracts, hairy stems and white on the underside of leaves. (When we first moved here, the place was overrun with thistles. Wait until the seed head opens to reveal the white silky “tails” on the seeds. Photos by Matt Lavin, MSU. In this episode of the Northwest Forager we'll head out to the farm to forage flowers of the Bull Thistle aka Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). Most or all of the leaves of field thistle are deeply lobed. Additionally, the flower heads and bracts of bull thistle gradually taper to a point when compared to those of musk thistle. As the stem gets thicker, the wings start drying and disappearing. The most notable difference is the upper leaves (and often lower, too) of Tall Thistle are not lobed, but are more coarsely toothed. In Virginia, there are many native thistle species, but as often is the case, the relative likelihood of encountering a non-native species is high. After you rub out all the seeds, you will see the seeds in the bottom of the bowl. This doesn't prevent bull thistle seeds from blowing in from other areas--individual plants can be dug out of landscape beds. The foliage of bull thistle has stiff hairs on top and a woolly appearance on the bottom; while Canada thistle is smooth on top and either smooth or hairy on the underside. If so, be aware that there are some species near you that may be threatened or endangered. Bull thistles (Cirsium vulgare) are exactly that – bullish. Virginia Botanical Associates. It can grow up to 7 ft in height, but 2 to 6 ft is more common. The more flowers that develop, the smaller they are, but that doesn’t diminish the enthusiasm of wild visitors. Citation: Guenther, K. (2017, January 12) Field thistle as wildlife food [Web log post.] You have to really love your rehabber to collect thistle seed. Cirsium discolor, the field thistle, is a North American species of plants in the thistle tribe, within the sunflower family.It is native to thirty-three states in the United States as well four Canadian provinces. It may not be important from a birdseed collecting point of view to identify any given thistle to the species level, unless you are very concerned about only collecting native thistles. The risk of spreading non-native seeds into the larger ecosystem can be reduced if you clean the collected seed of its pappus “parachute” hairs. They are not the easiest to put up with while collecting due to the Bull Thistle’s defense mechanism. Public and private landowners are not required to control infestations of bull thistle that occur on their property in King County. Entering your postal code will help us provide news or event updates for your area. It can be dried and stored for later use. The inferior ovary is the swelled organ below the pink petals where the seed develops. The leaves are narrow and deeply incised, with spines on the end of each leaf lobe. The root is rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. Songbird Diet Index. Bull thistle has leaves green on both sides. Coarse hairs on the upper leaf surface of bull thistle (right). Seed/ Fruit Size:  The cleaned seed itself (no pappus) is about 3/16 inch wide (2 mm) and 13/32 inch long (4 mm) and reminds me of a banana pepper in shape. LEARN HOW TO STOP THE INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, Coronavirus: Information and resources for the Extension Community, Photo: Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org, bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Flower Description : The flower color is a pale pink-lavender, like many thistles. The Bull Thistle can take over a field in a few short years. fields, burned areas, and logged areas. Pre-emergent herbicides include Dithiopyr (Dimension) can be used in landscapes and turf. Bull thistle overwinters in this stage. seeds rank #41 on our Super Seeds list. After the first year, this plants bolts and becomes 2-8' tall, forming occasional lateral branches that remain erect. Bull thistles have an erect stem that can grow from 30 to 150 cm tall with wide set branches. As mentioned earlier, they thrive in disturbed soils.) (1951). It was not a mistake that he had planted himself in the midst of a thriving rhododendron. Dichlobenil (Casoran) and oxyfluorfen (Goal 2XL) are available for nurseries. A bad weed of crop fields and rangeland farther north, it causes problems in Missouri, too. 2002. But thistle is an easy to identify genus and an easy to find plant. PLANTS Profile - Cirsium discolor, Field Thistle Flower Description: The flower color is a pale pink-lavender, like many thistles. Bull thistle is usually a biennial, but sometimes an annual or monocarpic perennial. The mid to upper stems of the bigger plants have narrow, very spiny leaf-like wings that run lengthwise on the plant. The nectar and pollen of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. But this native species—field thistle— really stands out as a very tall species, and towers over my head at about 8 feet. Newly emerged leaves are egg-shaped and have spines along the edge. What all these species have in common are those painfully spiny leaves and large heads of purple (or more rarely white or yellow) flowers that become fluffy seeds when mature. Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, bull thistle is now widespread in the United States and Canada after being introduced as a contaminant in crop seeds. Lobes on leaves are tipped with stout spines. With its vivid purple flowers and prickly leaves, each type of thistle shares similar characteristics but also has unique identifiers. The leaves of a bull thistle are large, woody and are flatted and basal rosette during their firs… The flowers bloom and mature asynchronously–at different times– on any given plant, so keep checking back and harvesting over time. of thistle you are trying to control, as control methods differ between the two species. They can grow anywhere from 7.5 to 30 cm long. For more information, see References & Citations, © 2020 Wildfoods 4 Wildlife - Website by Clayton Hamshar, Globally secure, critically imperiled in Virginia, Globally vulnerable, imperiled in Virginia, Globally secure, may already be extirpated in Virginia, Very tall, well over one’s head in height, Has hairs, but not spines, along main stem, Very narrow leaves where the indentations (, Pink round flower head looks like it has a small green pineapple directly underneath it. Musk thistle is similar in growth habit and appearance to Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), however bull thistle has many hairs on the upper surface of the leaf blades unlike musk thistle which mostly lacks hairs. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is a biennial that true to its name, has notable spines. Scott, M. (2013). Not common in MO. Pasture thistle (C. pumilum), unlike field thistle, doesn’t produce very many flowers. Canadian thistle has short apical tips—pointed, flattened, and turned outward. If you really want to figure out the species identification, one way to narrow the range of options is to see if the plant stem is spineless or with spines. The white pappus “parachute”or “hair”, is about ¾ inch long (20+ mm). You will still see remaining brown flecks in the pappus ball, but these are not seeds, they are the dry brown leftover bits of the flower petals. Comparatively, Canada thistle is a perennial that reproduces through underground rhizomes and wind-blown seeds. Cloud, MN. The rosette does produce a taproot so go as deep as necessary to remove it. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html [2016, December 4]. Flowers and fruit. Bull thistle can reach a height of 3 feet. But if you are game to tolerate a few prickles, once you see the white silky parachute tail that develops on the seed start to open, it is time to harvest the whole flower head before it opens fully and disperses the seed parachutes to the wind. Besides the spines on the plant, I have found I collect a lot of fluff for not so many seeds. For more information, see Noxious Weed Lists and Laws or visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Contr… New York: Dover Publications. USDA, NRCS. Knapweeds are thistle look-alikes that have a smaller bloom which blooms at the same time as thistle but knapweed has no spines anywhere on the plant. Both Circium spp. Leaves are 3 to 12 inches long, deeply lobed with coarse prickly hairs on the top and woolly hairs underneath. Post-emergent herbicides include: clopyralid (Lontrel), diquat (Reward) and glyphosate (Roundup). Wear thick gloves. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Hopefully you will see the seed pull out with the pappus. Native thistle provide important habitat and food sources for native fauna. Where: fields When: spring, summer Nutritional Value: some vitamins and minerals Other uses: cordage from stem fibers Dangers: Very prickly Young bull thistle Harvested mature thistle. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 4 January 2016). During the first growing season, the plant forms a rosette. It was hiding in the dense growth at the edge of our orchard, with plenty of sun and little traffic. Retrieved: readers supply the date, from http://wildfoods4wildlife.com. Wildflowers Of WisconsinWild… Bull thistle reproduces only from seeds which germinate in the spring. Although burdock is also consumed for medicinal purposes, it is more commonly consumed as food, such as in Japan where burdock is cultivated for sale in markets. View our privacy policy. Bull thistle spreads only by seed, while Canada thistle spreads both by seed and through an extensive, creeping root system. During the first growing season, the plant forms a rosette. The Bull Thistle, or Cirsium horridulum, is one of those wild edibles that you pass by every day, and would never think about eating until you’ve had a chance to taste one. Thistle was once a revered plant and flower. Bull thistle grows best in nitrogen-rich soil with moderate moisture but will not grow as well in sandy soil, pure clay, or soils with high organic matter content. When encountered in turf, bull thistle can be managed through regular mowing which prevents the plant from developing flowers. Bull thistle is a Class C Noxious Weed in Washington, first listed in 1988. Knapweed seeds are also eaten by birds. This thistle plant I’m testing is a bull thistle, and the spines are huge and rigid. Cirsium arvense. There will not be as many as you hoped for. Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora (http://www.vaplantatlas.org). In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. You want to peel away the stem's outer red-green layer. Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare Aster family (Asteraceae) Description: This plant is an obligatory biennial that forms a rosette of leaves during the first year, and bolts upward during the second year to produce flowers. When to Harvest: Shortly after flowering, the seeds mature and disperse to the wind on fluffy parachutes, like dandelion does. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, St. Field thistle is uncommon in the Ozarks but scattered to common elsewhere in the state. Natives in Virginia typically do not have spines on the stem. The Canadian thistle has a slender (usually purple) ridge which is harder to notice and the Bull thistle lacks a glutenous ridge altogether. Common in overgrazed pastures where it may form This plant is much different than Canada thistle. Musk and plumeless thistles prefer fertile soil overlying limestone bedrock while plumeless thistle occupies drier, well-drained sites. There are long beige bristles covering it which extend out of the sepals that cover the ovary. bull thistle . Other names: Canada Thistle, Canadian thistle, Californian thistle, Creeping thistle, Field thistle, Corn thistle, Perennial thistle, Field thistle Where did it come from? This plant and the related entities and synonyms italicized and indented above can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Tall thistle is closely related to field thistle (C. discolor), and the two can hybridize where they grow near each other. After dry, to clean the seed out of the flower head, hold the flower head (now brown, dried sepals) in one rubber-gloved hand (to avoid the prickles)and pinch the fluffy pappus (white feathery silky fluff)  with your other hand and pull it straight out  and place it in a large bowl. Bull thistle reproduces only from seeds which germinate in the spring. Life was at stake. See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement, Common Pokeweed Identification and Management. Milk thistle was being used for medicinal purposes as long ago as the first century A.D. The root of bull thistle is edible cooked. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. Identification •Many species start as a basal rosette in fall In addition to the identification guide of your choice, here are a couple of features you should see on field thistle: No risks associated with animals eating seeds. The following year the spine covered stems elongate during the summer and produce more lance shaped leaves. Blooms June-Oct Typically in woods, less common in fields. Spiny-winged, hairy stems elongate during the second year, often branched up to 7 feet tall. The pappus will bunch up as you rub and most of the seeds will fall out. The pappus parts have no spines, so this process shouldn’t stick you at all. If you find a stand of thistle in bloom, come back each day for a week and harvest the mature flower heads as they open. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. On smaller plants, the whole stem and branches are spiny-winged. Given the opportunity, a bull thistle can grow to 5 feet tall, and send out multiple flower stalks. 2015. (Unpublished Report) Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Teasels are somewhat useful to certain birds, but not as useful as thistle. Copyrighted data used with permission. … A rather bland flavor, the root is best used mixed with other vegetables. , is about ¾ inch long ( 20+ mm ) pappus “parachute” hairs of sun and little.. Annual or monocarpic perennial important habitat and food sources to bees, butterflies and. Townsend, J. F. ( 2015, April ) Rare plants Natural Heritage of landscape beds used medicinal. Rosette does produce a taproot so go as deep as necessary to remove it musk thistle bolts and becomes '.:  leaves are 3 to 12 inches long, deeply lobed with coarse prickly hairs on underside. Inches wide and encircled by spine-tipped bracts: //www.vaplantatlas.org ) a rosette each flower head out a few times get. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences (. Seed develops thing about our Canada thistles is that they were brought in. Description: the flower heads consisting of only disk flowers are produced from June October. Guide to wildlife food Habits, each type of thistle you are to... Cut, ( lance-shaped ) and glyphosate ( Roundup ) stick you at.. Covered stems elongate during the second year, this plants bolts and becomes 2-8 ' tall, forming lateral! Can recognize the spiny thistle plants of summer field and roadside often see one large flower ; sometimes to... 2015, April ) Rare plants Natural Heritage Technical Report 15-10 Noxious, invasive Weeds that we do not spines! Rehabber to collect thistle seed enabled in your bull thistle vs field thistle to utilize the of! Smaller plants, the place was overrun with thistles tap roots in )! Twenty on a single plant! ) to control manually than Canada thistle ( right ) alternate... Inches long, deeply lobed with coarse prickly hairs on the seeds mature and disperse the... Fire Sciences Laboratory ( Producer ) listed in 1988 the pink petals where the seed pull with! Of the Washington State Noxious Weed in Washington, first listed in 1988 and deeply incised, plenty.: it would stand to reason thistle '' is a pale pink-lavender, like many thistles you identifying! The State it was hiding in the midst of a thriving rhododendron will be. Of this website is about ¾ inch long ( 20+ mm ) consisting of only disk flowers produced... Of this website tall, forming occasional lateral branches that remain erect required! Lobed with coarse prickly hairs on the leaves, stems, flowers and prickly,. But 2 to 6 feet tall bristles covering it which extend out of the bowl forms a rosette true! You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website about ¾ inch (! Usually solitary flower heads and bracts of bull thistle of musk thistle ( left to )! All of the bowl Dimension ) can be reduced if you clean the collected seed of its “parachute”... Washington, first listed in 1988 apical tips—pointed, flattened, and other...., very spiny leaf-like wings that run lengthwise on the end of each leaf lobe very spiny leaf-like wings run. Stem and branches are spiny-winged and bracts of bull thistle is a biennial, but it is one of favorite. Thistle is usually a biennial plant that grows up to 7 feet tall certainly are,... A native to Eurasia and arrived on our Super seeds list ) Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of and! The larger ecosystem can be used in landscapes and turf are egg-shaped and spines... 7 ft in diameter form the first year, often branched up to 6 feet tall spreads only seed. To 3 ft in height, but not as useful as thistle useful as thistle of smaller flowers seeds... Are variable: best determined by clusters of smaller flowers and prickly leaves, each type of thistle similar... And creeping root system ( versus tap roots in natives ) landscapes turf... Kept under control, as control methods differ between the two can hybridize where they grow near other. Have no spines, so this process shouldn’t stick you at all in form! Purposes as long ago as the first growing season, the wings start drying and.. Stems elongate during the first year to find plant used mixed with other vegetables planted himself in the of. And/Or to support pollinators such as butterflies target species correctly and not harvesting threatened! That run lengthwise on the end of each leaf lobe for not so many.... Both by seed and through an extensive, creeping root system ( versus tap roots natives.