Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Table of Contents

Names

•English - nodding thistle
•French - chardon penché
•Latin Name - Carduus nutans L.

Photos

Nodding thistle. Flower Head, on a naked (non-winged) stalk.

Current Status

•Ontario Weeds Act - noxious
•Other provinces - noxious in AB, SK, MB, QC
•Canadian Federal Seeds Act - Class 1
•U.S. Federal Noxious Weed - no
•U.S. Noxious State Reg - 20 states (including Illinois, Mich, Ohio, Penn, Minn)

Poisonous/Cautions

•Pub 505 - no
•NE Weeds - no
•Canadian Poison Plant - not listed
•Cornell Poison Plant - not listed

Distribution

•Common throughout Southern Ontario in pastures, roadsides and waste areas especially on coarse textured soils.

Growth Habit

•Biennial

Method of Propagation

•Seeds (Wind blown)

Control

•Not listed on 2,4-D, Banvel or Roundup labels. Best time to mow is within two days of the opening of the first terminal flowers in mid summer. May need more than one mowing due to differences in plant maturity. Seed will be produced when allowed to bloom for 6 days. Mowing prior to flowering will result in regrowth. Mowing will not kill first year rosettes. Cultivation needs to cut them off below the rosette or crown of the plant.

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