| Weed |
Bull
Thistle |
| Scientific
Name |
Cirsium
vulgare |
| Family |
Aster
family (Asteraceae, formerly Compositae) |
| Life
Cycle |
Biennial |
| Reproduction
Method |
Reproduces
by seed |
| Appearance |
Bull
thistle forms large, coarse plants with spiny leaves, large taproots, and
stems that are heavy and branched at top and hairy when mature. |
| Leaves |
Deeply
lobed, spiny above and below, and pubescent beneath. The leaf base joins
stem resulting in winged appearance. |
| Flowers |
Inflorescences
of bull thistle are reddish-purple, 1-2" in diameter, and borne June through
October. There are large spiny bracts that surround the heads. |
| Occurrence |
Poor,
open turf throughout the growing season and are often more common during
cooler seasons. |
| Non
Chemical Control |
To
control Bull thistle without chemicals, maintain turf density and health
through proper culture. |
| Chemical
Control |
 |
 |
| Application
Period |
Apply postemergence herbicides in mid spring to early summer, mid to late
autumn during periods of active growth. |
| Active
Ingredient in Labeled Products |
Preemergent
|
Postemergent
|
|
|
- 2,4-D
- 2,4-DP
- bentazon
- chlorsulfuron*
- clopyralid
- dicamba
- MCPA
- MCPP
- triclopyr
*not on tall fescue and ryegrass turf |
|
| Notes |
|
(Click
on Image to Enlarge and Sharpen Photograph)
|
Bull
thistle immature plant
|
Bull
thistle in turf
|
Bull
thistle open seedhead
|
|
|
|
|
Bull
thistle spines
|
Bull
thistle maturing plant
|
Bull
thistle green bloom
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Confused??
Look-a-Likes |
|
