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Rangeland-Pasture Recommendations <br /> Canada thistle Identification and <br /> Management <br /> ' Canada thistle (Cirsium amense) is a non-native deep-rooted perennial that <br /> spreads by seeds and aggressive, creeping horizontal roots (rhizomes). Canada <br /> ' thistle can grow 2 to 5 feet in height. The leaves are oblong, spiny,bright green in <br /> color, and are only slightly hairy on the undersurface. Flowers occur in small <br /> clusters that form on the ends of branches. They are about 1 cm in diameter, <br /> tubular shaped, and vary from white to purple in color with a strong vanilla <br /> scent(female flowers). <br /> Canada thistle emerges from its root system from late April through May. <br /> ' It begins to flower in late spring to early summer with increase in day length. <br /> Canada thistle only produces about 1,000 to 1,500 seeds per plant. Typically, it <br /> reproduces vegetatively through a creeping root system, and can quickly form <br /> dense stands. Every piece of root, from 1/2 to 1 inch in length, is capable of <br /> forming new plants. The key to controlling Canada thistle is to eliminate seed <br />' production and also to reduce the plant's nutrient reserves in its root system <br /> through persistent,long-term management. <br /> O eedproduFtio <br /> ' <br /> Canada thistle is one of the most feared noxious weeds in the U.S. as it can <br /> infest many land types, from roadsides, ditch banks,riparian zones,pastures, <br />' irrigated cropland, to the most productive dryland cropland. Forage production <br /> is severely reduced because cattle will not graze near infestations. <br /> Combining control methods for Canada thistle is imperative. The weed <br /> needs to be continually stressed, forcing it to exhaust root nutrient stores and <br /> eventually die. Of all control methods, prevention is most important. Maintain <br /> healthy pastures and rangeland and continually monitor your property for new <br />' infestations. <br /> On the backside of this sheet are Canada thistle management <br />' recommendations. If you have any questions, please contact the Weld County <br /> Public Works Dept.,Weed Division at(970)304-6496 ext..3770. Please visit our <br /> website at www.weldweeds.org <br />