Russian Thistle

RUSSIAN THISTLE

(Russian cactus, russian tumbleweed)

Habitat: Cultivated fields, roadsides and fence rows

Description: Russian Thistle is a spiny, annual plant that is reproduced by seed.  The plant is quite bushy measuring .3 - 1 meter in height.  The stem is sometimes has reddish stripes.  Leaves have sharp points that are flattened on the upper side.  The measure 2.5 - 5 cm long.  The small flowers are green or pink in color located in the leaf axis.  Seeds are top-shaped and grey in color.

Control Practices: The seeds have a very short viability period.  Thus preventing the production of seeds for one year will signifiantly reduce populations and in the following year it will nearly eradicate populations.  Summerfallow or short-term perennial forage production are excellent ways to control the Russian Thistle.  There is also a wide range of herbicides available to control the spread.

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