Canada Thistle

Scientific name: Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop

Common names: Canada thistle, Californian thistle, Canadian thistle, creeping thistle, field thistle, corn thistle, perennial thistle, field thistle

Native To: Eurasia

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1600s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Probably accidental through farm seed shipments

Impact: Crowds out native species; reduces crop and forage yields

Current U.S. Distribution:

• National Agricultural Pest Information System - Pest Tracker - Reported Status
• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

States Where Reported Invasive: WeedUS Database map

Management Plans: Plants

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Cirsium arvense
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Thistles - Integrated Pest Management Manual
DOI. National Park Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Excellent references section

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Canada Thistle) - Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (PMIS)
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Cirsium arvense Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy

Canada Thistle - Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States
USDA. Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Cirsium arvense - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Plant Profile for Cirsium arvense - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution

Cirsium arvense - Species Abstracts of Highly Disruptive Exotic Plants at Effigy Mounds National Monument
DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Identification/Description; Life Cycle; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Cirsium genus - EncycloWeedia
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Canada Thistle - Best Management Practices Weed Profile (PDF | 217 KB)
Colorado State Parks.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Canada thistle - Noxious Weed Information Series (PDF | 274 KB)
State of Colorado. Jefferson County. Weed and Pest Management Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Controls

Canada Thistle
State of Colorado. Larimer County. Weed Control District.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Canada Thistle - Idaho's Noxious Weeds
Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts. Idaho OnePlan.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Controls

Canada Thistle - Vegetation Management Guideline
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
Identification-Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life cycle; Distribution; Controls

Canada Thistle Official Control Program
Kansas Department of Agriculture. Plant Protection and Weed Control Program.
Identification/Description; Dispersion; Controls

Canada Thistle - Missouri Vegetation Management Manual
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Canada Thistle - Invasive Plants of Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Natural Areas and Preserves.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Canada Thistle - Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia (PDF | 98 KB)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Natural Heritage Program and Virginia Native Plant Society.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense L.)
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Canada Thistle
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Distribution; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Control

Canada Thistle - Wisconsin Botanical Information System
Wisconsin State Herbarium; University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution

Canada thistle - Invasive Plant Species of Alaska (PDF | 49 KB)
University of Alaska - Anchorage. Alaska Natural Heritage Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Canada Thistle
Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Control Practices for Canada Thistle
Purdue University. Botany and Plant Pathology.
Photographs; Life Cycle; Controls

Canada Thistle - Noxious Weeds of Nebraska (PDF | 377 KB)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Noxious Weeds of Nebraska: Canada Thistle (PDF | 351 KB)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Canada Thistle Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 211KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Canada Thistle - Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide
Ohio State University. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History

Canada Thistle - Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle

Canada Thistle (PDF | 224 KB)
lberta Invasive Plants Council (Canada).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Controls

Canada Thistle - Guide to Weeds in British Columbia
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries (Canada).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Cirsium arvense (herb) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Canada Thistle - Invasive Exotics (PDF | 49 KB)
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve (Pennsylvania).
Illustrations; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls

Cirsium arvense
California Invasive Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Canada Thistle
Colorado Weed Management Association.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Cirsium arvense
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Canada Thistle
Invasive.org.
Photographs; Special Note: Resources

Canada Thistle
Montana Weed Control Association.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Candian Thistle - BioBullies (Western Pennsylvania)
Natural Biodiversity.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Element Stewardship Abstract with excellent set of references

Canada Thistle
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls