Minnesota Wildflowers


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Carduus nutans (Nodding Thistle)

Plant Info
Also known as: Nodding Plumeless Thistle, Musk Thistle
Genus:Carduus
Family:Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:biennial
Origin:Europe
Status:
  • Invasive - ERADICATE!
  • Noxious Weed
  • Prohibited or Restricted species
Habitat:sun; fields, along roads
Bloom season:June - October
Plant height:2 to 7 feet
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: indistinct round

[photo of flower] Flower heads are 2 to 3 inches across, purple to pinkish. The flower heads often nod down, hence the common name. The bracts are rather large and generally triangular, in many layers spreading out away from the flower head, and are green or tinged purple. One plant may have several flowers, each sitting at the end of a long smooth stem.

Leaves and stem: alternate lobed

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 15 inches long at the base of the plant, gradually becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. There are numerous spines along the wavy edges and no leaf stem. Leaves are deeply lobed; the lobes on lower leaves are further divided into several smaller lobes. The base of upper leaves may extend down the spiny main stem, forming “wings”.

Notes:

Nodding Thistle is on the prohibited noxious weed list for Minnesota. Goldfinches are quite fond of them for both the seed and the silks from the seed heads, which they use to line their nests.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, June 2006 and June 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Jane in Hennepin
on: 2011-05-28 14:00:57

Why are these and some of the other thistles on the restricted list? Is there an actual scientific justification for each species somewhere? I hope it's not something stupid like "they are prickly", especially if birds like them.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-05-28 19:47:45

The non-native thistles are highly invasive and degrade native habitat. Regardless, many plants are on the noxious weed list because they are an agricultural pest plant that are problematic in grazing and crop fields. As for the birds, there are native thistles that they like just as well. What do you suppose they fed on before the weeds arrived?

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