Photo Credit: USFWS

Russian thistle or “tumble weeds” can grow three to four feet tall.

• Bluish-green stems are prickly, sometimes red or purple striped.
• Leaves are alternate and linear tipped with a stiff spine.
• Inflorescence (flowering part of the plant) is inconspicuous greenish-white to pink solitary flowers appearing on the apex of the branches, accompanied by a pair of spiny bracts.
• Has tumbled across many places dropping its seed. Common places include roadsides, fencepost typically through Western North America, in saline or disturbed alkaline soils.

The plant originated from Russia and was brought to North America in 1873 or 1874, by accident, in a shipment of flax seed to South Dakota. The Native Americans recognized the plant as “white man’s plant,” because wherever the white man settled, Russian thistle soon followed.

The plant has been used to promote menstrual flow, increase urine flow and decrease water retention. The young shoots were also grown and used in salads as part of ones diet.

For a complete Refuge species list

For in-depth plant information
connect with the U.S. Dept Agriculture Plant Data Base

Last Updated: 2/9/09

Plants that do not grow naturally on this short grass prairie are called "invasive species."

INFORMATION from US Fish & Wildlife

INFORMATION from USGS

ANNUAL RYE
CANADA THISTLE
CHEAT GRASS
FIELD BINDWEED
KOCHIA
COMMON MULLEIN
MUSK THISTLE
RUSSIAN KNAPWEED
RUSSIAN OLIVE
RUSSIAN THISTLE

VOLUNTEER WEED MAPPING
PROGRAM