Yellow Star Thistle

Scientific name: Centaurea solstitialis L.

Common names: Yellow star thistle, geeldissel, golden star thistle, St. Barnaby's thistle, yellow centaury, yellow cockspur

Native To: Eurasia

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1800s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Accidentally through contaminated seed

Impact: Crowds out native species; toxic to horses

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

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: WeedUS Database map

Management Plans: Plants / Yellow Starthistle

Selected Internet Resources:

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

Centaurea solstitialis
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Centaurea solstitialis L. (Yellow Starthistle/Barnaby's 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

Yellow Starthistle - TEKTRAN database
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Research

Yellow Starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis: There’s A Fungus Amongus! (PDF | 102 KB) and "Progress in Yellow Starthistle Biological Control" (Feb 22, 1999)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Photographs; Impacts; Control; Research

"Weevil Gets Upper Hand With Unruly Weed" (Feb, 1999)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Control

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

Centaurea solstitialis - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Biology and Biological Control of Yellow Starthistle (FHTET-1998-17 2nd Ed., Jul 2003)
USDA. Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Yellow Starthistle - Weed of the Week (Mar 20, 2006; PDF | 180 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Centaurea solstitialis - 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

Noxious Weed: Yellow Starthistle
USDA. Sawtooth National Forest.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Plant Profile for Centaurea solstitialis - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

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

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

Yellow Starthistle Mapping Project
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Photographs; Impact; Controls

Yellow Starthistle (PDF | 235 KB)
State of California. Plumas County. Plumas-Sierra Noxious Weeds Management Group.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

Yellow Starthistle
State of Colorado. Larimer County. Weed Control District.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

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

Yellow Starthistle
State of Utah. Weber County Weed Abatement.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Yellow Starthistle
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Yellow Starthistle - UC Pest Management Guidelines
University of California. Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Control

Yellow Starthistle Information
University of California. Weed Research and Information Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Yellow Starthistle - WeedUS Database
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

Montana Knapweeds: Identification, Biology, and Management
Montana State University. Extension Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Controls

Yellow Starthistle is Invading Nevada (PDF | 350 KB) and Yellow Starthistle Control in Nevada: An Integrated Approach to Invasive Weed Management (PDF | 743 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

Yellow Starthistle: Ecology and Management on Pacific Northwest Rangelands and Managing Yellow Starthistle in Southwestern Oregon
Oregon State University. Extension Service.
Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Yellow Starthistle - 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

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

Yellow Starthistle
Colorado Weed Management Association.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Centaurea solstitialis
Discover Life.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Yellow Starthistle - IVM Technical Bulletin
Integrated Pest Management Information Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

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

Centaurea solstitialis (Yellow Starthistle)
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

Yellow Star Thistle
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

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