| musk thistle | USDA PLANTS Symbol: CANU4 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs |
| Carduus nutans L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae |
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| Synonym(s): nodding plumeless thistle, nodding thistle, bristle thistle | |
| Native Range: temp. Asia & Europe (GRIN); | |
Musk thistle is an herbaceous, biennial plant that grows to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. It has become a serious invader of open lands throughout the continental United States. It can be recognized by its showy, red-purple flowers and very spiny stem and leaves. Flowering occurs from June to September. The large, disk-shaped, terminal flower heads droop when mature. Musk thistle invades a variety of disturbed areas. Pastures are particularly at risk because musk thistle is unpalatable to livestock. Once established it can spread rapidly due to high seed production (as much as 120,000 seed per plant). Musk thistle is native to Western Europe and was accidentally introduced into the United States in the early 1900s. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; basal rosette Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); lower stem Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); upper stem Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Stem and foliage Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Ricky Layson, Ricky Layson Photography, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Stem(s); June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Ricky Layson, Ricky Layson Photography, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Ready to set seed. Montana Wendy VanDyk Evans, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Vince Belleci, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Vince Belleci, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; A pile of fill dirt left over winter. The following spring, the pile was covered in musk thistles. Kris Johnson, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 554. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
