CANADA THISTLE: List B Species Cirsium arvense
County Management Strategy: Suppression throughout the County.
Status in Delta County: Problem in higher elevation forest lands, high country meadows and pastures, and along seeps and drainages. A few patches occur at lower elevations, primarily in wet or disturbed sites.
Control Methods: Control of Canada thistle is difficult. Herbicides are most effective, often in combination with mowing to reduce seed production. Spring (bolt to pre bloom stage) and fall application of herbicides is recommended. Effective herbicides are Mileston, Redeem, Telar and Curtail. Milestone is especially effective in the fall. Digging and tillage are ineffective and may cause the plant to spread or produce more stems. Seeding with competitive desirable grasses is highly recommended. See CSU Extension Service Fact Sheet No. 3108 for more information on control methods. Biocontrol agents are available but releases have not resulted in large scale control locally and have been used primarily in the National Forest.
Identification: A deeply rooted, perennial weed that spreads from rhizomatous roots and also produces large numbers of seeds. Leaves are alternate on the stem with spines along the edges. The edges of leaves are highly variable and can be wavy-edged on one plant and deeply lobed on another. The purple flowers are small, about ½" to 3/4" in diameter, and grow in a cluster at the branch tips. Flowers may have a sweet smell and are visited by bees and other pollinators. Plants grow 1-4 feet tall and are usually found in large clumps. Canada thistle is commonly found in moist soil conditions.
Other names: Creeping thistle, field thistle
Similar Species: Several species of native thistles are mistaken for Canada thistle. Identification by a professional is essential. A rare native species, Cirsium perplexans, is similar but is a tap rooted, not rhizomatous, perennial. Flowers are borne singly rather than in clusters. Plants do not typically grow in clumps like Canada thistle. Cirsium traceyi (formerly C. undulatum and called wavy leaf thistle), another native thistle often confused with Canada thistle, has larger, paler purple flowers and silver gray leaves.
Control Timing: Spring and fall.
Control target: Prevent seed production and stress root system.
Photos: http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=2792
Fact sheets and control: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1178305507460&pagename=Agriculture- Main%2FCDAGLayout http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/03108.html http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ciar1.htm
Additional links: http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Cirsium+arvense&mode=sciname