Thistle – Musk

     Musk Thistle
 
Scientific Name: Carduus nutans

Family: Asteraceae

Structure: Erect, freely branching, up to 7 feet tall.

Life Cycle: Biennial, or winter annual. Rosette forms first year; flowering stem elongates second year.

Leaves: Dark green with light midrib, hairless on both sides, long sharp spines.

Flowers: Deep rose to purple, ½–3 inches in diameter, solitary with nodding heads.

Roots: Fleshy taproot that's hollow near ground surface.

Treatment:

Application Timing: Apply in the spring and early summer to rosette or bolting plants or in the fall to seedlings and rosettes before ground is frozen. Use higher rates after bolting through early flower.

Recommendation:
1.5 to 2.0 ounces per acre of Chaparral™ herbicide OR
1.5 to 2.1 pints per acre of GrazonNext® HL herbicide OR
1.5 to 2.1 pints per acre of ForeFront® HL herbicide OR
2.0 pints per acre of Grazon® P+D herbicide OR
3 to 5 fluid ounces per acre of Milestone® herbicide.



Treatment-Related Literature (PDF format)
pdf icon Control Musk Thistle and Plumeless Thistle this Fall (308KB PDF)
pdf icon Perennial and Biennial Weed Control in CRP (159KB PDF)
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