Posted on 07.14.21 by Harney SWCD

By Tyler Goss

Musk Thistle (or Carduus Nutans) is a biennial thistle of the Arteraceae family, native to Mediterranean Europe. This invasive grows to stand about four feet tall and has a big purple bulb on top. Unlike Scotch thistle, the flower head of the plant is entirely purple. The stalks leading to the flower head are bare.  It can be found entirely throughout Oregon and Idaho and loves gravel that stays moist in the summer. You can commonly find it on ditch banks, field sides and roadways.  Most herbicides can kill it in the first year.