Musk Thistle

Scientific name: Carduus nutans L.

Common names: Musk thistle, nodding thistle

Native To: Eurasia

Date of U.S. Introduction: Late 1800s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Accidental, possibly through ballast water

Impact: Crowds out native species and forage for livestock

Current U.S. Distribution:

• 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

Carduus nutans
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

Carduus nutans L. (Musk 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

Musk Thistle - TEKTRAN database
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Research

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

Carduus nutans L. - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Musk 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

Musk Thistle - Weed of the Week (Mar3, 2005; PDF | 154 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection. Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Carduus nutans - 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

Musk Thistle - Noxious Weed
USDA. Sawtooth National Forest.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Plant Profile for Carduus nutans - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Illustrations; Distribution

Carduus natans L. - An Assessment of Exotic Plant Species of Rocky Mountain National Park
DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Musk Thistle
Arizona Department of Transportation. Intermodal Transportation Division.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls; Legal Aspects

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

Musk Thistle - Best Management Practices Weed Profile (PDF | 216 KB)
Colorado State Parks.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Integrated Weed Management of Musk Thistle (PDF | 244 KB)
State of Colorado. Douglas County. Public Works.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Musk Thistle - Noxious Weed Information Series (PDF | 229 KB)
State of Colorado. Jefferson County. Weed and Pest Management Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

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

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

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

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

Musk Thistle
State of Utah. Weber County Weed Abatement.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Dispersion; Controls

Carduus nutans - Wisconsin Botanical Information System
Wisconsin State Herbarium; University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.) and related species: - Invasive Plant Species of Alaska (PDF | 111 KB)
University of Alaska - Anchorage. Alaska Natural Heritage Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

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

Musk Thistle - State Noxious Weed List (PDF | 108 KB)
Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

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

Musk Thistle - Integrated Pest Management (PDF | 808 KB)
Iowa State University. Extension.
Photographs; Introduction History; Controls; Special Note: References

Musk Thistle: Identification and Control (PDF | 2.71 MB)
Kansas State University. Research and Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

Musk Thistle - Noxious Weeds of Nebraska (PDF | 411 KB)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Noxious Weeds of Nebraska: Musk Thistle (PDF | 381 KB)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Musk Thistle Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 175 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Managing Musk Thistle (PDF | 323 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Musk Thistle
Oklahoma State University. Alfalfa Information.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Controls; Special Note: Excellent series of photographs

Musk Thistle - Biological Control of Weeds in Texas
Texas A&M University. Entomology.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

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

Nodding Thistle
Tasmania Department of Primary Industries and Water (Australia). Weeds, Pests, and Diseases.
Identification/Description; Distribution; Controls

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

Carduus nutans
Discover Life.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

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

Musk Thistle - BioBullies (PDF | 740 KB) (Western Pennsylvania)
Natural Biodiversity.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Carduus nutans (Musk 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

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

Carduus nutans
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Musk Thistle - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle, Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References