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PlantFiles: Spiny Plumeless Thistle
Carduus acanthoides

 
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Family: Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Carduus (KARD-yoo-us) (Info)
Species: acanthoides (a-kanth-OH-id-eez) (Info)

Category:
Biennials

Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)

Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Danger:
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling

Bloom Color:
Rose/Mauve

Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall

Foliage:
Herbaceous

Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season

Soil pH requirements:
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)

Patent Information:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed

Profile:

No positives
1 neutral
3 negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Negative Joan On Apr 1, 2007, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:

This plant is listed on the North Dakota invasive/troublesome list and this information is being distributed in a guide developed by the ND Weed Control Association and other agencies.

Plant Features
Winter annual or biennial, can form dense patches
Rosettes can grow up to 4 feet tall, second year plants can grow up to 6 feet tall
Leaves dark green with a light mid-rib on top, bottom of leaves hairy/whitish
Leaves deeply lobed, lobe tips ending in white/yellow spines
Stems with spiny wings on entire length, candelabrum-like shape
Early spring emergence
Abundance of red to purple 3/4 inch flowers
Bracts on flower heads spine-tipped
Large fleshy taproot

Distribution
Documented in several areas, abundant in eastern N.D.
Potential for increasing very high, can grow under most conditions

Interesting Facts:
Spreads by seed only
Introduced as an ornamental

Negative caron On Nov 25, 2004, caron from Woodland Park, CO (Zone 4b) wrote:

Colorado Class B Noxious Weed. Mandatory eradication in all counties except Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin.
All locations of this plant in Colorado should be immediately reported to the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Negative cherishlife On Nov 12, 2004, cherishlife from Pocola, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

The USDA website has this plant listed as a noxious weed in Arkansas and Iowa.

Neutral smiln32 On Aug 30, 2004, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

Plumeless thistle is a winter annual or biennial herb 3-10 dm tall with a stout fleshy taproot. The stems are freely branching with spiny wings extending to the flowering heads. The plant rarely flowers the first year. The second year, flowering occurs from May - August.

The spiny plant invades fields and pastures competing with native species or forage crops.

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

Belfield, North Dakota



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