Non-Native thistles

Non-native thistles

Carduus nutans
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium vulgare

Non-native “thistles”include spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthus), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), and Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium ssp. acanthium), with the first two species being the most widespread in Missouri.

Identification and fact sheets

• Learn about Non-Native thistles at Invasive.org
• Read more from the Missouri Department of Conservation about identification, threats, and control practices of Non-Native thistles
• Invasive plant resources from Missouri Prairie Journal: “Missouri’s Thistles” article provides detailed drawings and a key to help you identify thistles

Representative photos of Non-Native thistles:

Photos by Gerald Holmes, Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org

Non-Native thistles impact, abundance, and trend in Missouri

Learn more about the Missouri Invasive Plant Assessment →