Yellow Star Thistle

Life Cycle

• Annual

Growth Habit

• Erect, up to 5-feet tall

Plant Emergence

• Seedlings in early spring
• Flowers late May / June until frost

Characteristics

• Deeply tap-rooted; reproduces by seed
• Stiff, wiry, winged stems
• 3/4" yellow flowers covered with spines
• Toxic to horses; causes "chewing disease"

Control

• Grazing, mowing, burning, pulling, digging can be effective prior to seed production
• Apply Milestone; 2,4-D; Curtail; Banvel; or Tordon to actively growing plants before flowering