Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans): An Undesirable Range Plant

Abstract

Musk thistle, a spiny, unpalatable biennial plant native to Europe and Asia, is becoming widely established on western ranges. It is a vigorous grower and prolific seed producer and is spreading rapidly to uncultivated areas and wild lands used for ranges and watersheds. Though musk thistle spreads faster and is more vigorous where there is little plant competition, it is also spreading and growing well in good native and seeded ranges and in irrigated pastures and meadows. It is relatively easy to control with herbicides. It should be controlled before it spreads to larger acreages.